File #: Res 1187-2007    Version: * Name: Reduce the threshold amount of child support arrears due and owing before drivers, professional, occupational, business, and recreational licenses of a child support obligee can be suspended from the equivalent of four months of arrear.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 12/19/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass legislation that would reduce the threshold amount of child support arrears due and owing before drivers, professional, occupational, business, and recreational licenses of a child support obligee can be suspended from the equivalent of four months of arrears to the equivalent of two months of arrears.
Sponsors: Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, John C. Liu, Michael C. Nelson, Larry B. Seabrook, Helen Sears, David I. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 7

Res. No. 1187

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass legislation that would reduce the threshold amount of child support arrears due and owing before drivers, professional, occupational, business, and recreational licenses of a child support obligee can be suspended from the equivalent of four months of arrears to the equivalent of two months of arrears.

 

By Council Members Fidler, Gennaro, Liu, Nelson, Seabrook, Sears and Weprin

 

Whereas, Child support aids parents in promoting the well being and development of their children; and

Whereas, The federal government enacted a Child Support Enforcement program in 1975 as a federal/state/local partnership to strengthen families by securing financial support from non-custodial parents and to lower government costs of providing cash welfare to families with absent parents; and

Whereas, The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement reports that during Fiscal Year 2006 the total amount of support due was over $29 billion of which only $18 billion was collected and distributed leaving  $11 billion in arrears; and

 Whereas, According to the same report in the State of New York $1,788,946,886 billion of child support was due in Fiscal Year 2006 of which $1,161,209,909 billion was collected and distributed, leaving $627,736,977 million in arrears; and   

Whereas, The New York City Human Resources Administration reports that in Fiscal Year 2007,  $601,900,000 was collected in child support which was only 69.3% of obligations due; and

Whereas, Non-payment of child support obligations can be detrimental to the proper care for children; and

Whereas, Punitive measures such as garnishing of wages, unemployment compensation interception, and State or Federal income tax refund offsets were created to increase the likelihood that non-custodial parents would comply with child support orders issued by the courts; and 

Whereas, Additional consequences include the suspension of drivers, professional, occupational, business, and recreational licenses; and

Whereas, Current state Domestic Relations Law allows for the suspension of these licenses if the equivalent of four months of arrears is outstanding; and 

Whereas, If the threshold amount of arrears accruals before licenses can be revoked is reduced from the equivalent of four months of arrears to the equivalent of two months of arrears, it will help to ensure that custodial parents have the financial support to provide for their children by providing an additional incentive for non-custodial parents to pay their obligations promptly; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass legislation that would reduce the threshold amount of child support arrears due and owing before drivers, professional, occupational, business, and recreational licenses of a child support obligee can be suspended from the equivalent of four months of arrears to the equivalent of two months of arrears.

 

LS 3904

11/14/07

MBT