The bill proposes to repeal and replace Section 15-9-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-9, which pertains to the support of children. The current law, which is to be repealed, outlines the duty of parents to pay for the support and maintenance of their child when the child is under the care of the department of children, youth and families, or any other department, agency, society, institution, or person. It includes a detailed formula and guidelines for the court to determine the amount of support, considering factors such as the financial resources of the child and parents, the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the marriage had not been dissolved, and the physical and emotional condition of the child.

The new legal language to be inserted simplifies the title of the section to "Duty of parent to pay support and maintenance to the agency or person having custody of the child." The detailed provisions, including the formula and guidelines for determining support payments, the conditions under which support may be ordered for children attending high school or with severe impairments, and the procedures for modifying support orders, are all deleted. The explanation provided by the Legislative Council states that the act would repeal the law requiring a parent to pay support and maintenance to agencies having custody of their child and that the act would take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7904: 15-9-1