Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Child support bill killed by Idaho legislators fearful of Islamic law

Associated Press
BOISE — An Idaho House panel voted 9-8 on Friday to kill legislation to bring the state into compliance with federal child-support collection rules after some lawmakers said they were concerned about foreign Sharia law influencing the state’s enforcement authority. Idaho child support program director Kandace Yearsley says the committee’s decision has placed Idaho at risk of losing millions in federal child support funding as well as access to the federal enforcement tools used to collect child-support payments from parents living in other states. But some members of the House committee said they were concerned the bill was tied to an international convention regarding cross-border recovery of child-support payments. Rep. Heather Scott and Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, both Republicans, said they feared the bill could force Idaho to enforce child-support rulings made under Islamic law or foreign tribunals.