HB 1962 Pennsylvania House · 2023-2024 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further providing for assistance recipients to seek support, for cooperation required and for enforcement of cooperation requirements.

This bill amends Pennsylvania laws to require parents receiving state assistance to actively cooperate in establishing paternity and securing child support for their children. It mandates that applicants must appear before a court to address potential fathers before receiving aid, with exceptions only if alternative methods are equally efficient. The legislation also establishes that providing names of two putative fathers who are later excluded by genetic testing will create a presumption of noncooperation, which can only be overturned with strong evidence. Finally, the bill outlines specific penalties for failing to cooperate, including the termination of medical benefits and a reduction of cash assistance by at least 25%.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Jul 2024
House Passage
Jul 2024
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 31, 2024 Last action Jul 17, 2024
Floor votes · House Jul 2, 2024

How they voted

1780
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 180
Jul 2, 2024
D Democratic89
89 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican91
89 Yea 2
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Jul 17, 2024
Committee
Referred to Aging & Youth
upper
Jul 3, 2024
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jul 3, 2024
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jul 2, 2024
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (178-0-2)
house
Jul 2, 2024
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Jul 2, 2024
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 24, 2024
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jun 24, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jan 31, 2024
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 20 co-sponsors

Sponsors