Legislative Milestone: Bill to Elevate Minimum Child Support Payment Clears Committee Stage

In a significant legislative development, the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection recently endorsed a transformative bill aimed at substantially raising the default minimum child support payment from $250 to $1,000. This bill, hailed as one of the most consequential child support reforms in recent memory, marks a pivotal step toward addressing the financial challenges faced by custodial parents.

Crafted by Senator Carla Joseph, the amended Bill 35-0226 proposes a revised monthly child support payment structure: $1,000 for the first child and $150 for each additional child. This initiative specifically targets non-custodial parents who neglect to submit the requisite financial documentation needed to ascertain the correct child support amount. The initial version of the bill suggested a modest increase to $350 for the first child and $75 for additional children, but further deliberation among lawmakers led to a consensus that a more significant increase was necessary to encourage compliance with child support laws.

Kathryn Jensen-deLugo, a leading official in the Department of Justice’s Division of Paternity and Child Support, expressed her support for the bill, highlighting a troubling trend over the past fifteen years of non-custodial parents evading their financial responsibilities. This avoidance often leaves custodial parents struggling to provide basic necessities for their children amidst escalating living costs. Jensen-deLugo pointed out that those earning through informal means are particularly prone to defaulting on payments.

While the bill garnered widespread support among senators, there was a dialogue about the need for data-driven decision-making in determining the revised payment amounts. The Attorney General’s office, tasked with revisiting child support guidelines every four years, recently commissioned the University of the Virgin Islands to undertake such a study for the first time in sixteen years. Questions arose regarding the methodology behind the proposed figures, with some legislators advocating for a more robust data foundation before finalizing the increase.

Despite these concerns, the urgency to close loopholes exploited by financially able parents unwilling to pay more than the minimum was a recurring theme. The proposed increase to $1,000 was seen as a strategic move to compel non-compliant parents to submit their financial details, ensuring fair and adequate child support payments.

The 2023 Kids Count data, revealing that 33% of children in the territory live in poverty, underscored the critical nature of this legislation. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger linked single-parent household struggles to the broader issue of child poverty, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement measures to ensure non-custodial parents contribute fairly to their children’s upbringing.

After vigorous debate, the bill advanced to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, propelled by the affirmative votes of five lawmakers. Senator Carla Joseph, reflecting on the dire statistics of child poverty in the Virgin Islands, underscored the bill’s immediate necessity, signaling a steadfast commitment to enhancing the lives of children and custodial parents alike.

This legislative move represents a hopeful stride toward ensuring that all children in the Virgin Islands receive the support they deserve, with the bill’s progress closely watched by all stakeholders committed to fostering a more equitable and supportive society for single-parent families.