BOISE, Idaho – Idaho legislators are scheduled to be back in town May 18 for a special session called by Gov. Butch Otter to address legislation to bring state code regarding child support enforcement up to standards.
Without the change, more than $200 million in support payments are at risk.
AARP Idaho established an online petition today about the issue. And Lee Flinn, the group’s director of advocacy, says it's all about keeping families strong by holding parents financially responsible.
"Preserving Idaho's child support enforcement program will give all those hard working families across Idaho the security of knowing that they will have enough money to put food on the table and provide other basic necessities for their children," she states.
And it's not just about child support. The state also is at risk of losing $30 million in federal funding for child care assistance, children's mental health services and early education programs.
Flinn admits that eyebrows have been raised about why AARP is interested in a child support issue.
She explains that many working parents of minors are over the age of 50, many grandparents are acting as parents and of course, loss of payments are bad for children.
"So it's not as much an issue of age,” she points out. “The issue is really about Idahoans pulling together to keep families strong."
Flinn adds that Idaho's child support program is well run and has participated in the interstate collection program for almost 20 years.
