The bill amends Section 15-5-16.2 of the General Laws concerning child support in divorce and separation proceedings. It introduces new provisions allowing the family court to order child support and education costs for children who have attained eighteen (18) years of age but have not yet attained twenty-one (21) years of age, provided they live with a parent and are principally dependent on that parent for support. Additionally, it allows for support orders for children who have attained the age of twenty-one (21) years but have not attained the age of twenty-three (23) years, if such children are domiciled in the home of a parent and are principally dependent on that parent for support due to their enrollment in an educational program, excluding educational costs beyond an undergraduate degree.

The bill also removes the previous limitation that child support for high school students could not extend beyond their nineteenth (19th) birthday. It clarifies that the court may order child support for children with severe physical or mental impairments beyond their emancipation, considering various factors related to the child's condition and the financial resources of both the child and parents.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the appointment of guardians ad litem to represent minors in support proceedings and outlines the court's authority to modify child support orders based on changes in circumstances, including the incarceration of a noncustodial parent. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with the new provisions for support and education costs becoming effective on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
5261: 15-5-16.2