Legislature(1999 - 2000)
2000-01-21 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2000-01-21 House Journal Page 1962 HB 300 HOUSE BILL NO. 300 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to the establishment and enforcement of medical support orders for children; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social Services, Judiciary and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Revenue, 1/21/00 The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 19, 2000, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: Thanks to the inception of Denali Kid Care in March 1999, 12,000 more Alaska children and pregnant women have basic medical care. The success of this program will have far-reaching and long-term effects on the health and well-being of Alaskans. The vast success of Denali Kid Care has brought more into focus, however, an ongoing problem with Medicaid benefits and its effect on Alaska's child support system. This bill corrects the problem by clarifying that a child support order need not be automatically established when a custodial parent receives medical benefits through Medicaid. The Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) must, under federal law, issue a medical support order whenever a custodial parent receives medical benefits through Medicaid. The support order requires either parent to provide health care coverage for the child if it is available at 2000-01-21 House Journal Page 1963 HB 300 a reasonable cost. Currently, the CSED cannot establish a medical support order only; it must be in conjunction with a child support order that seeks monthly support payments. The custodial parent, however, may not want to pursue child support for various reasons. The current requirement to do so, then, becomes a disincentive to seek valuable medical benefits through Denali Kid Care. To allow more flexibility in such cases, this bill gives parents the option of requesting a medical support order only, without an accompanying child support order. This bill also amends the medical support statutes to provide that either parent, not simply the obligor parent, may be required to provide health care coverage if coverage is available to the parent at a reasonable cost. By making this change, the bill assures that the statutory requirements for medical support orders are consistent with the requirements of Alaska Civil Rules and related federal law. This bill also makes it clear that a medical support order can be issued regardless of whether health care coverage is currently available to either parent. This makes medical support a continuing obligation on the part of either parent to provide health care coverage for the child whenever it is available at a reasonable cost. In the interest of the health of Alaska's children, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor"