Alaska lawmakers have passed legislation to bring state child support law into line with an international treaty under which the United States and other nations enforce child-support orders for one another.
The Senate passed the bill, without debate, 14-6 on Monday. The measure previously passed the House.
Gov. Bill Walker’s administration said Alaska faced losing about $19 million in federal child support funding and $45 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds if it didn’t pass the bill. All states are being asked to do this.
Congress required passage of legislation to receive federal child support funding. According to the state, about two-thirds of Alaska’s Child Support Services Division is federally funded, and states must have federally compliant child-support programs to receive funds for the needy families program.
