LAW AFFECTS LICENSE, PERMIT PRIVILEGES OF CHILD SUPPORT DEBTORS

Child-support debtors may not purchase hunting, fishing licenses

A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will ensure that delinquent child support debtors are not issued licenses or permits by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

House Bill 2393 requires the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to maintain a quarterly-updated list of individuals who are delinquent on court-ordered child support. KDWP will receive the electronic files of child support debtors to match against applicants for licenses or permits. HB 2393 also outlines procedures by which individuals may be removed from the list of delinquent child support debtors, reinstating privileges for hunting and fishing licenses and permits.

“A parent’s primary responsibility is to support his or her child, but unfortunately we’ve seen some who are failing to uphold that obligation and are not paying child support,” Sebelius said. “If they are not willing to meet this basic duty, they will face repercussions.”

According to the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, this new law will keep Kansas in compliance with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, thus preventing the loss of approximately $36 million in federal child support enforcement funds each year.

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