Committee advances amendment clarifying child‑support cooperation and housing authority language in HB 1642

Senators discussed House Bill 16‑42, which the committee said had been pulled previously for clarification about how it would affect housing authorities and the interpretation of a cooperation requirement for noncustodial parents.

A senator noted the sponsor (Senator Irvin) had pulled the bill earlier for clarification; the revised language was intended to make explicit that the bill should not be interpreted to penalize custodial parents or to alter housing authority decisions. Senator Hickey and others said the intent was to limit the cooperation requirement to ordinary interactions (for example, answering questions) and not to create a mechanism that would be used to find custodial parents in violation when the underlying child‑support payer was the relevant issue.

Barbara Williams of the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Child Support Enforcement, told the committee she had not had an opportunity to review the amendment at the hearing but said she had no concerns with the original bill as read. After discussion, Senator Elliott moved a due‑pass as amended and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Next steps: the committee passed the bill as amended and it will move forward in the legislative process.