HB 1028 Summary

• Requires noncustodial parents to pay at least one-half of the reasonable cost of child care expenses necessary for the custodial parent to seek or retain employment in all child support orders.

• Amends Mississippi Code sections 93-5-23, 93-11-65, 43-19-101, and 43-19-103 to establish this child care cost-sharing requirement across divorce decrees, custody proceedings, and child support guidelines.

• Makes child care expense sharing a mandatory provision in all child support orders as a matter of law, with noncustodial parents responsible for their proportional share.

• Allows courts to consider child care expenses exceeding one-half the reasonable cost as a factor when determining whether to deviate from standard child support guidelines.

• Takes effect July 1, 2014.