SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 157

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 2, 1996

      The Senate Human Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 157.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires that if a non-custodial parent is required to provide health benefits coverage for a child pursuant to a child support order, but the non-custodial parent's plan is unable to provide coverage for the child based on the fact that the child lives outside the area served by the plan, then the non-custodial parent shall pay the additional cost for coverage under the custodial parent's health benefits plan. In addition, if the custodial parent has no health benefits plan, then the non-custodial parent is required to purchase a separate health benefits plan to cover the child.       The committee adopted amendments to require that in instances where the custodial parent has no health benefits plan, the non-custodial parent must purchase a separate plan to cover the child.

The committee also amended the bill to delete portions of the bill which are now provided for in law, under P.L.1995, c.58.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.