Senate OKs overhaul of child-support guidelines

The Utah Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to an overhaul of the state's child-support guidelines.

In its final vote on the measure, senators overwhelmingly approved SB23, sponsored by Sen. Greg Bell, R-Farmington. The 26-3 vote sends the measure to the House for approval.

SB23 has been criticized by noncustodial parents who would see their monthly child-support obligations increase, in some cases by 25 percent, under the updated child-support tables.

The bill also amends the state's low-income tables to require a $30 minimum monthly child-support payment, up from the current $20 and extends the tables for parents whose joint monthly income exceeds $10,000, where the current guidelines end.

If ultimately approved, child-support orders made after Jan. 1, 2008, would fall under the new guidelines. Existing orders could not be modified using the new tables until January 2010.