Missouri House passes child support bill
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Missouri House passes child support bill

Date: April 8, 2014
By: Arianna Poindexter
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Children of separated parents would have to get passing grades to keep getting child support for college or vocational education.
RunTime:  0:49
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Missouri House passed a measure that would require a child who is enrolled in vocational or higher education institutes to receive passing grades each semester while enrolled in 12 credit hours in order to remain eligible to receive child support benefits.

If the child did not meet the requirements and the court did not find any extenuating circumstances, the child support would be terminated.  

Representative Jay Barnes of Cole County supports the bill.

Actuality:  SUPPORT1.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "The bill right now is a good bill. It encourages parents who are custodial who have kids in college to get those kids passing college classes."

Opponents of the measure say it makes it more difficult for children to finish their college education. 

The bill now moves to the Senate.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Arianna Poindexter.

Intro: 
Missouri House members passed that could make it more difficult for children to receive child support benefits while enrolled in a higher education institute.
RunTime:  0:47
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill would require the child to receive passing grades each semester while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours in order to receive child support benefits.

The parent support obligation will continue until the child finishes school or until they reach the the age of 21, whichever comes first.

St. Louis County Representative, Gina Mitten expressed concern with the measure.

Actuality:  SUPPORT2.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "The way that I see your bill, it amends it to a way that makes it even more difficult for children who happen to not graduate high school until their 18th birthday to complete college."

The bill's supporters say the bill simply encourages parents who are custodial and have kids in college to get those kids passing their classes.

The measure now moves to the Senate.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Arianna Poindexter.