The committee was placed in a brief recess.

The committee came back to order.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives English and Joseph, introduced House Bill 25-1159 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill makes changes to the child support system that were recommended by the Colorado Child Support Commission, including changing eligibility for the low-income adjustment from below the current monthly income level of $1,500 to an amount that is based on the state minimum wage (self-support reserve); permitting low-income obligors to retain income up to the self-support reserve threshold and allocate 80 to 95 percent of the remaining income towards child support (based upon the number of children). If the calculated amount falls below the reduced low-income adjustment amount or above the basic schedule amount, the corresponding amount will apply; updating the basic child support obligation schedule; modifying the parenting time adjustment to account for all overnights a parent has with a child and implementing the corresponding parenting time adjustment table; requiring courts to enter child support orders for every dissolution of marriage proceeding and allowing courts to appoint Child Family Investigators in juvenile proceedings that involve the allocation of parental responsibilities; and making other changes that clarify requirements for independent contractor reporting, extraordinary medical expenses for children, and factors considered for retroactive child support and income tax dependency.

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Economic Security, provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C).

Boulder County provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D).

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Larry Desbien, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Melanie Jordan, representing Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

Tracy Rumans, representing Colorado Child Support Commission, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment E).

The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.003 (Attachment F).

The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.