House Bill No. 154, introduced by Representative McMakin, aims to amend existing laws regarding paternity acknowledgment and child support collection, particularly focusing on the circumstances of unemancipated minors. The bill modifies R.S. 9:315.1(C)(8) to include additional considerations for courts when determining deviations from child support guidelines, such as the status of a parent as an unemancipated minor, the availability of familial support, and the importance of the minor parent's education. It also introduces a new provision, R.S. 9:315.1(C)(9), which outlines further considerations that may influence the court's decision on child support deviations.

Additionally, the bill establishes new sections R.S. 9:405.1 through 405.3, which set forth regulations for the acknowledgment of paternity by minors. Specifically, it states that unemancipated minors under sixteen cannot enter into an acknowledgment of paternity, while those aged sixteen or seventeen may do so only with judicial authorization. The bill also details the process for requesting such authorization, including the venue for submission and the court's discretion to require the minor's presence to ensure they understand the implications of the acknowledgment. Overall, the legislation seeks to provide clearer guidelines and protections for minor parents in matters of paternity and child support.

Statutes affected:
HB154 Original: 9:1(C)(8)
HB154 Engrossed: 9:1(C)(8)