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1995 SESSION

LD6442412
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 540
Offered January 23, 1995
Requesting the creation of a joint subcommittee to study the need for regulation of private entities collecting child support.
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Patrons--Purkey, Callahan, Croshaw, Katzen, Newman, Rollison and Tata; Senator: Holland, C.A.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, children are the most valuable resource of society; and

WHEREAS, in recent years the duty of ensuring that parents adequately provide for their children has fallen, with increasing frequency, upon the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the methods used by the Commonwealth for enforcing a parent's duty of support are varied, but collection of delinquent support obligations is now being undertaken by private entities; and

WHEREAS, there is some evidence that these entities may be overreaching in their collection efforts and may in some instances fraudulently represent to the obligee their ability to collect the debt and the cost to the obligee of their collection services; and

WHEREAS, the fees and collection methods used by these entities are not regulated by the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a five-member joint subcommittee be established to study the need for the regulation of private child support collection practices. The study shall include an assessment of the need for criminal penalties to address fraudulent collection practices. The membership of the study shall be appointed as follows: three members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker, and two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $3,000.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by all agencies of the Commonwealth, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1996 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.