WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 110

Prohibits a member of the legislature from disbursing moneys pursuant to memoranda of understanding regarding certain line item appropriations prior to an election

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Liz Krueger

The bill directs child support payments for current and former public assistance recipients to be paid to families, not the state, and broadens good-cause protections to limit sanc

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 110

Summary — S 110 (An Act to bring child support home)

Note: The bill text provided is a Massachusetts state bill titled “An Act to bring child support home” (Senate No. 110, presented by Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem). Some metadata (title, sponsors) in the submission appears inconsistent with that text; this summary follows the bill language as filed in the Massachusetts General Court.

Purpose

The bill modifies Massachusetts child‑support and public‑assistance law to (1) limit when the state may impose cooperation sanctions on parents receiving Title IV‑A public assistance, (2) ensure child support collections are paid to the family rather than retained by the state in certain cases, and (3) require the IV‑D child support agency to forward collected support (including arrears and tax‑offset collections) to families who are former recipients of assistance.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 (amends G.L. c. 18, §18A)

    • The Department must impose the federal sanction on any Title IV‑A public assistance recipient who, without “good cause,” fails to cooperate with the IV‑D agency to establish paternity or to establish/modify/enforce a child support order.
    • Defines “good cause” exceptions to cooperation, including: conception by rape or incest; pending adoption proceedings; where cooperation would discourage a noncustodial parent or relatives from maintaining a relationship or providing support; where cooperation risks physical or emotional harm or retaliation to the child or the child’s caregiver; or where cooperation is otherwise not in the child’s best interest.

  • Section 2 (amends G.L. c. 118, §2)

    • Child support collected on behalf of a recipient under this chapter shall be paid to the family.
    • In calculating countable income for program eligibility, the department must disregard child support paid to the family that is below the monthly federal poverty level for the family size.

  • Section 3 (amends G.L. c. 119A, §2(b))

    • For former recipients, the IV‑D agency must pay to the family all support payments collected on their behalf, including collections on arrears assigned to the state and amounts collected via federal tax refund offsets.

Who is affected

  • Current and former recipients of Massachusetts benefits under the referenced chapters (Title IV‑A recipients and other beneficiaries under c.118 and c.119A).
  • The Massachusetts Department administering public assistance and the state IV‑D child support enforcement agency (administrative/process changes).
  • Noncustodial parents (through adjustments to enforcement/cooperation practices) and families receiving more direct support payments.

Potential impacts

  • Redirects more child‑support dollars (including some arrears and tax‑offset recoveries) to families rather than to state coffers, which may reduce state reimbursement/retention of assigned support.
  • Requires administrative changes to eligibility calculations (poverty‑level disregard) and payment processing.
  • Expands and clarifies good‑cause protections that can prevent sanctions; may reduce the number of sanctions imposed for noncooperation in sensitive situations.

Legislative status / timeline (as provided)

  • Introduced in the Senate: 01/10–01/16/2025 (filed/presented by Cynthia Creem).
  • Referred to various committees (entries show Investigations & Government Operations; Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities; and other references).
  • Hearing scheduled: 09/16/2025 (A‑2).
  • Reported favorably and referred to Senate Ways & Means: 10/20/2025.
  • House concurred: 02/27/2025 (metadata appears inconsistent and may reflect multiple procedural notes).

Notes

  • The submitted metadata (title about prohibiting legislators from disbursing monies before an election, listed sponsors including U.S. Senators, and some procedural entries) conflicts with the bill text. This summary is based solely on the Massachusetts bill language provided (Senate No. 110, “An Act to bring child support home”). Please confirm which version or jurisdiction you wish summarized if you intended a different measure.

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

Sign in to ask a question.