The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1009 authored by Rep. Rowray and Rep. McNamara on discretionary child support during pregnancy. This bill originally allowed a child support order to include the period dating from the conception of the child for not more than 40 weeks.
Amendment 5, which was adopted by consent, strips the language in its entirety and adds language for portion of code related to mother’s pregnancy and childbirth in Ind. Code § 31-14-17-1. The new language would allow courts to order fathers to pay for expenses incurred to take the baby home safely after birth and up to 6 weeks postpartum. The expenses would include things like a car seat, diapers, wipes, a crib or bassinet, formula or breast feeding equipment, etc. The Family Law Section of Indiana State Bar Association was neutral on the bill as amended and the Indiana Catholic Conference testified in support. The amended bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1009.