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Eye On Boise

The facts behind the child support enforcement issue…

What exactly is SB 1067, the rejected child support enforcement bill, how does it work, and why does it matter so much? Idaho Public TV reporter Melissa Davlin has been looking into these questions and more, and has some detailed answers on her blog today; you can read her full post here. Among them: "What’s the issue? This legislation clarifies the process through which states and countries determine jurisdiction over child support cases — basically, which court makes the decision. What’s not in the bill: Anything to do with child custody issues. This is solely about child support, aka the cash and medical care. What’s at stake? Basically, Idaho’s ability to collect and process child support. The federal government told every state, as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and every US territory, that they must pass amendments to the Uniform Interstate Family Security Act by the end of their respective legislative sessions, or risk losing federal funds for their child support enforcement programs, as well as access to federal information portals that allow states to track parents who owe child support."

Davlin has interviewed key players, reviewed documents, and dug deep into the issue for Idaho Public TV’s “Idaho Reports” program, which airs Friday.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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