Illinois Legislature Mobilizes to Protect Reservists

[MYSONSDAD]

Illinois Legislature Mobilizes to Protect Reservists Fighting Overseas From Unfair Child Support Payments


Thu Mar 10,10:00 AM ET
 
 
To: State Desk

Contact: Joe Englert of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, LTD, 312-807-3990 ext. 236 of [email protected]

CHICAGO, March 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Illinois reservists and guardsmen fighting overseas may face another battle when they return home - a legal battle. Many divorced or unwed fathers serving in the reserves may face prosecution as a "deadbeat dad" and possible jail time when they return home due to unpaid child support payments they could not afford while on their limited active-duty pay. Adjusting these payments can be difficult for reservists who may be mobilized with as little as one day's notice.

This week the Illinois Legislature moved forward two identical bills that would address this problem and protect Illinois' military fathers. The bills - Senate Bill 2094 and House Bill 2598 - would establish a program to adjust child support payments for reservists and guardsmen when they are mobilized for more than 30 days. The proposed legislation was passed unanimously in the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) on March 8, 2005 and was passed unanimously by the House Child Support Committee the following day.

"Now Illinois lawmakers will have the opportunity to fight for the soldiers that are fighting for us, by ensuring that they aren't welcomed home as dead beats." said Chicago attorney and fathers' rights advocate Jeffery M. Leving, who authored the proposed legislation. "Reservists and guardsmen serving overseas are risking their lives everyday to protect our freedom. The least we can do is fix a flaw in the system that could cost them their freedom."

The bills, sponsored by Sen. Kimberly Lightford and Reps. Kenneth Dunkin and Cynthia Soto, will now go before the full Senate and House for votes in those chambers.

In addition to establishing the Child Support Military Modification (CSMM) program, the proposed legislation would mandate the publication and distribution of materials to inform reservists and guardsmen of the program, making efforts already initiated by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and Operation Homefront to facilitate modification of child support payments the law in Illinois.

Leving, a nationally recognized litigator and author of the book "Fathers' Rights," believes the proposed Illinois law will serve as an example for lawmakers in other states. A bill similar to the legislation proposed in Illinois was recently introduced in the California State Legislature.

He also is advocating for reform at the federal level. Currently, military fathers cannot get relief when they return home because of the federal Bradley Amendment, which forbids judges from retroactively forgiving child support.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

 
 
"Children learn what they live"