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May 22, 2000 GONSALVES TO SCANNELL: DEADBEAT PARENT LEGISLATION DESERVES HEARING
SCANNELL HOLDING BILL HOSTAGE FOR 95 DAYS Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) in a letter to the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin), is urging that the Committee hold public hearings on Legislator Gonsalves' proposed legislation that would allow the Sheriff's Department to place a boot on the car of a deadbeat parent who owes more than $2,500 and is more than 90 days in arrears in their child support payments. "The proposed legislation was introduced on February 16 or 95 days ago. Yet, the Chairman of the Committee has yet to schedule a single public hearing to allow the public to be heard regarding this important legislation," said Legislator Gonsalves. In her letter Legislator Gonsalves states, " If this legislation needs to be amended so be it. I urge you, however, not to hold the victims of this neglect hostage to inaction and indifference. It is time to hold a public hearing on this bill and move it forward." In Nassau County, there are approximately 31,000 court-ordered child support cases in any given month. Of those cases, 20,000 are in arrears for child support for a total amount of $165 million. Under the legislation, deadbeats owing more than $2500 in arrears for 90 consecutive days would be eligible for the boot. The agency responsible for implementing the policy would be the Sheriff's Office and the Department of Social Services. |