State Representative JoAnne Favors has scheduled a fact finding public forum to obtain information from non-custodial parents regarding their experiences with Tennessee child support laws, policies and interventions. This event will be held Thursday, Dec. 13, at 6 PM at the Kingdom Center at 730 East M.L. King Blvd.
It was stated, "This forum is being conducted in response to an overwhelming number of telephone calls and personal discussions with non-custodial parents, their parents, and other concerned citizens regarding interventions that have been perceived as being extremely harsh and unjust. Interventions, such as incarcerations that often resulted in job losses, further exacerbating the accrual of child support payment. Because of low wage jobs, job loss, inadequate affordable housing and other factors these payments would more than likely remain in arrears perpetually. Other complaints included threatening letters still being sent after modifications had been agreed on, a parent having been awarded custody of the child continuing to receive letters demanding child support payments, revocation of driver’s licenses when child support payments are in arrears, and allegations of severe verbal mistreatment of non-custodial parents as they navigate the system. Complaints were also recently received at WTVC Channel 9 TV prompting an investigative report being produced and aired. Representative Favors was interviewed in the television production and announced that this public forum was being planned in response to the many complaints she had received regarding child support issues."
An advisory committee will compile a report based on information provided by forum participants.
"This report will be submitted to Governor Bill Haslam, members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Department of Children’s Services, Juvenile Court system, and the company, Maximus, which contracts with the state to provide child support services. Hopefully, after analysis of the report by the entities involved, appropriate corrective action will be implemented which optimizes positive outcomes for all parties involved."