Legislature Set to Make Illinois a Safe
Haven for Deadbeats
Illinois families will pay price if “Deadbeat Protection Law” passes

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2003

Springfield, Illinois - The National Coalition for Child Support Options (NCCSO) announced today that the Illinois Legislature is poised to pass a “Deadbeat Protection Law” that would render the state a virtual “safehaven” for deadbeat parents.

SB 44, authored by Senator Ira Silverstein, passed through the Senate on March 24, 2003, and is headed to the House floor this week. This bill would limit parents options when seeking child support enforcement, making it much easier for deadbeat parents to avoid paying support.

According to recent reporting statistics, Illinois has one of the worst performing state child support collection programs in the country. Today, 60 percent of all Illinois cases never get collected and 1 million Illinois children are going without child support.

This law essentially says ‘If we can’t help you, then tough luck.’ And that is unacceptable,” said NCCSO president and custodial parent, Susan Williams. “If the State of Illinois is going to close the door on 6 out of 10 cases, then it has an obligation to make sure another door is open someplace else.”

“Bad laws like this one only serve to hurt families in need,” added Williams.

In recent years, as many state collection programs become over burdened with cases, tens of thousands of custodial parents across the country have begun turning to private attorneys and private collection agencies to collect their support. According to a March 2002 U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, private agencies have a proven track record of success in collecting on even the toughest cases.

“The system completely failed me. I would have never gotten any of my child support if I hadn’t hired a private agency,” stated NCCSO Illinois state coordinator and custodial parent, Lisa Johnson. “Custodial parents need enforcement options. With more enforcement options available, more people will get the help they need.”

SB 44 severely restricts private agencies’ ability to pursue collections and would make it impossible for private firms to offer enforcement services to Illinois parents.

“The only people who win if this law passes are deadbeats like my ex-husband,” added Johnson. “Now, Illinois deadbeats will know they can stop paying and get away with it.”

About the National Coalition for Child Support Options
The National Coalition for Child Support Options (NCCSO) is a coalition of more than 5,000 parents, concerned citizens, community and business leaders, attorneys and members of the child support enforcement community who have joined to fight the national epidemic of unpaid child support.

NCCSO advocates enforcement options so that custodial parents have several resources available to them when seeking child support collection assistance. NCCSO members do this by reaching out to the media, decision-makers and the general public to educate them about threats to the existence of these options and choices.

For more information, please visit the web site www.childsupportoptions.org or call 1-866-244-1946.

###