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A 743

Directs the social services district to take no action to establish paternity or a child support order when the applicant or recipient has established good cause to refuse to cooperate

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Hevesi

Bill A 743 directs the social services district to halt paternity establishment and child support orders when applicants/recipients show good cause to refuse cooperation.

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 743

Bill A 743 — Summary

Overview

Bill A 743 would direct the social services district to refrain from taking action to establish paternity or a child support order when an applicant or recipient has established good cause to refuse to cooperate. The bill, introduced January 8, 2025, is currently REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES for committee consideration. The primary sponsor is Andrew Hevesi.

Purpose and Intent

  • Protect individuals who have legitimate reasons (good cause) to decline cooperation with paternity establishment or child support actions.
  • Signal that cooperation is not mandatory in all circumstances and that the district must pause or avoid pursuing paternity or support orders when good cause is shown.

Key Provisions

  • Directs the social services district: if an applicant or recipient has established good cause to refuse to cooperate, the district must take no action to establish paternity or a child support order in that case.
  • The text provided does not define “good cause.” How good cause is determined, documented, and reviewed would be governed by later statutory language or regulatory guidance.

Who is Affected

  • Applicants and recipients of social services who may be subject to paternity determinations or child support orders.
  • The social services district (the agency responsible for administering social services and coordinating related actions).
  • Potentially, child support enforcement processes tied to paternity actions, though the bill’s text focuses on district action.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: January 8, 2025.
  • Status: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES (committee stage) in the Assembly.
  • Legislative actions list shows two identical "REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES" entries on the same date, indicating formal committee referral processes.
  • As a committee referral bill, passage would require approval by the Social Services Committee and, if advanced, moves toward floor consideration and votes.

Related Legislation

  • A 2443 (prior-session) and A 6266 (prior-session) are listed as related bills, suggesting prior or ongoing consideration of similar provisions to limit paternity/child support actions in cases involving good cause or related protections.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Positive: Provides explicit protection for individuals with good cause to refuse cooperation, reducing potential coercion or imposition of paternity or support actions in those scenarios.
  • Operational: Requires clear criteria and processes for establishing “good cause,” and for documenting and validating that status within the social services workflow.
  • Compliance: May affect how paternity determinations and child support actions align with existing federal and state requirements; implications would hinge on regulatory implementation and any interplay with IV-D programs.
  • Budget and administration: Could influence caseload handling, appeals, and interagency coordination in cases where good cause is claimed.

Bottom Line

A 743 proposes a targeted protection for applicants/recipients in which the social services district would halt paternity establishment or child support actions when good cause to refuse cooperation is established. Its fate will depend on committee consideration and any clarifying language—particularly around the definition and application of “good cause.”

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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