Sec. E-3. 19-A MRSA §2304, first ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 264, §12, is further amended to read:

When a support order has not been established, the department may establish the responsible parent's current parental support obligation pursuant to chapter 63, establish the responsible parent's debt for past support, including medical expenses, and establish the responsible parent's obligation to maintain health insurance coverage for each dependent child or to pay a proportionate share of health insurance premiums. The department may proceed on its own behalf or on behalf of another state or another state's instrumentality, an individual or governmental applicant for services under section 2103 or a person entitled by federal law to support enforcement services as a former recipient of public assistance. The department acting on behalf of another state, another state's instrumentality or a person residing in another state constitutes good cause within the meaning of Title 5, section 9057, subsection 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a parental support obligation established under this section continues beyond the child's 18th birthday, if the child is attending secondary school as defined in Title 20-A, section 1, until the child graduates, withdraws, is expelled or attains 19 years of age, whichever occurs first. For purposes of this section, "debt for past support" includes a debt owed to the department under section 2301, subsection 1, paragraph A, a debt owed under section 2103 and a debt that accrues under sections 1504 and 1554 1505.

Sec. E-4. 19-A MRSA §3051, sub-§2, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 436, §28, is amended to read:

F. An acknowledged father of the child as provided in Title 19-A, section 1616 chapter 61, subchapter 3;

SUMMARY

PART A

Part A of this bill enacts the Maine version of the Uniform Parentage Act. Separate Maine comments are included to explain deviations from the uniform act.

PART B