SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1498

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 19, 1997

      The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1498.

      This bill would require the family court to review child support orders in cases where the child attends post-secondary education, or plans to do so in the near future, and a parent paying child support is contributing additional funds towards those education expenses.

      The bill provides that in this situation, upon request of either party, the court would be required to review the existing child support obligation on the grounds that a change of circumstances has occurred. In determining any new amount of child support to be paid, the court would take into consideration the child's expenses in post-secondary education, the needs of the child for ongoing periodic support and the parental contribution to the education expenses, among any other factors the court may wish to consider.

      This bill embodies Recommendation 11 of the report of the Commission to Study the Law of Divorce, issued April 18, 1995.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 77, sponsored by Assemblyman Kavanaugh and Assemblywoman Crecco, which this committee also reported favorably on this date.