An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further providing for liability for support; in protection from abuse, further providing for relief; and imposing penalties.

HB 1843 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to clarify child support obligations and add new requirements. It specifically requires parents convicted of certain violent crimes (like rape, statutory sexual assault, or incest involving intercourse) to pay child support even if their parental rights were terminated, with the convicted parent covering paternity testing costs. The bill also mandates that both divorced parents obtain "gainful employment" to support children, with contempt penalties including up to one year in jail or $5,000 fines for willful noncompliance. Additionally, it relieves a plaintiff from paying alimony to a defendant during the duration of a protection order. This bill directly affects parents facing support obligations, divorced parents, and individuals under protection orders.