An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further providing for assistance recipients to seek support, for cooperation required and for enforcement of cooperation requirements.
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends Pennsylvania’s Domestic Relations laws to strengthen requirements for assistance recipients to seek support and for cooperation between the department, courts, and involved parties. Specifically, it expands the circumstances under which a nonparent relative caregiver can choose not to cooperate in seeking support for a relative child, particularly when the parent has specific challenges like addiction, mental health issues, or incarceration. The bill also clarifies the need for cooperation in establishing paternity and securing child support payments to ensure the responsible use of assistance funds.
Key provisions
- Requires assistance applicants with missing parents or putative fathers to appear before a court.
- Allows a nonparent relative caregiver to opt-out of cooperating in support efforts under specific circumstances (e.g., parent addiction, incarceration, or death).
- Provides a mechanism for nonparent relatives to verify their circumstances through a self-attestation form.
- Clarifies definitions related to kinship and familial relationships.
- Mandates cooperation from assistance applicants and recipients in obtaining support payments.
- Outlines the department’s duty to require cooperation as a condition of assistance eligibility.
- Specifies that cooperation is essential for responsible use of assistance funds.
Who is affected
- Individuals seeking assistance (e.g., welfare recipients)
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 3762 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Benjamin Sanchez
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