HB 0919

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the child support guidelines; amending
3s. 61.30, F.S.; creating a rebuttable presumption that a
4parent is able to earn minimum wage, as set by the United
5States Department of Labor; providing for the parent to
6present his or her rebuttal before a trier of fact;
7providing an effective date.
8
9Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11     Section 1.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
1261.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
13     61.30  Child support guidelines; retroactive child
14support.--
15     (2)  Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for the
16obligor and for the obligee as follows:
17     (b)  Income on a monthly basis shall be imputed to an
18unemployed or underemployed parent when such employment or
19underemployment is found to be voluntary on that parent's part,
20absent physical or mental incapacity or other circumstances over
21which the parent has no control.  In the event of such voluntary
22unemployment or underemployment, the employment potential and
23probable earnings level of the parent shall be determined based
24upon his or her recent work history, occupational
25qualifications, and prevailing earnings level in the community;
26however, the court may refuse to impute income to a primary
27residential parent if the court finds it necessary for the
28parent to stay home with the child. Any person found to be the
29parent of a child or children in this state is presumed to be
30able to earn minimum wage, as set by the United States
31Department of Labor. This presumption is a rebuttable
32presumption. Any parent seeking to rebut this presumption may
33present evidence at a hearing noticed for the purpose of
34establishing child support before a trier of fact.
35     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.