The bill amends Section 26-17-636 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to provide for the retroactivity of child support orders under specific circumstances. Notably, if a child-support order is entered within the first year after the child's birth, it may be retroactive to nine months prior to the child's birth. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a parent's liability for past support is generally limited to two years before the enforcement action unless a support order has been previously established. It also specifies that no child-support order can be authorized if the child is not born alive.

The bill includes several technical revisions to update the existing legal language, such as changing the phrasing regarding the payment of fees and costs in court proceedings. For instance, it replaces "to" with "which shall" in the context of how fees are paid by parties, and it introduces new provisions regarding the submission of claims for costs to the state Comptroller. Furthermore, it ensures that the court may not assess fees against the support-enforcement agency except as provided by other law or for good cause. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26-17-636, 26-17-636
Engrossed: 26-17-636, 26-17-636