Bipartisan Bill Would Erase Two Decades of Disregard
Columbus –Senator Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) issued the following statement today upon the introduction of Senate Bill 292, legislation designed to comprehensively reform Ohio’s Child Support laws.
“Ohio’s Child Support laws are outdated, and they no longer effectively serve the children meant to benefit from them. They have not been adjusted for inflation, there is no adequate schedule for shared parenting agreements, and support for medical expenses is poorly contrived. My legislation will address all of these issues.
“This legislation is rooted in the official recommendations of the 2009 Ohio Child Support Guidelines Advisory Council. (That report can be accessed by clicking here.) Unfortunately, the legislature has not adopted substantive reforms in nearly two decades.
“This bill creates the Self-Support Reserve Test for Ohio’s poorest fathers and mothers and updates the Basic Child Support Schedule and Underlying Economic Assumptions by rule every four years, so they do not become outdated. Updating this schedule is partially offset by reducing Child Support payments for non-custodial parents who maintain parenting time with their children. This offset, which does not exist in current law, will help the parents pay for housing, food, clothing, entertainment, and other expenses necessary for raising a child.”