An Act to further family-centered child support

This bill amends Massachusetts laws to make child support enforcement more family-centered by clarifying when parents can avoid penalties for not cooperating with support agencies. It specifically allows individuals receiving public assistance to refuse paternity establishment or support orders if there is a risk of physical or emotional harm, the child was conceived through rape or incest, or cooperation would discourage other relatives from maintaining a relationship with the child. Additionally, the bill ensures that the first $500 of monthly child support collected for a family is excluded from income calculations when determining benefit eligibility. Finally, it restricts the state's child support agency from providing paternity services in cases where the individual is not legally required to cooperate.