News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Bill Withdraws Tax Deduction from Child Support Dropouts

For Immediate Release: April 22, 1998 Contact: Senator Dave Donley at (907) 465-3892.

Juneau - The Senate today passed legislation to prevent a parent who has failed to pay child support, from claiming a tax exemption for a child they are not supporting. Senate Bill 306, sponsored by Senator Dave Donley (R - Anchorage), prohibits courts from unconditionally granting tax exemptions to non-custodial parents in a divorce, legal separation, dissolution, or annulment.

Currently, many custodial parents are unfairly denied legitimate tax deductions because they relinquished this right in a prior child support agreement. The problem arises, however, when the parent who receives the tax exemption fails to stay current with child support payments.

"Parents who do not live up to their end of the child support bargain should be not be rewarded with a federal tax deduction," Donley said. "I hope this legislation will provide an incentive for parents to support their children and a financial disincentive for those who do not."

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= Dave Donley, 38 K