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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0216" sponsor="Jordan D. Teuscher" designation="HB" otherSponsor="Todd Weiler" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0605" date="1/9/2026 14:01:747" printDate="02-20 16:37" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>3</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C81-6-S203_2026050620260506" fromuid="C81-6-S203_2025050720250507" sort="81 06 02030020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">81-6-203</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="2" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Child Support Calculation Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill addresses the calculation of child support.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">addresses the inclusion of Social Security Disability Insurance in the calculation of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>gross income of a parent for purposes of child support.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="11">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="13">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="81-6-203" src="code" uid="C81-6-S203_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="81 06 02030020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16"><bold>81-6-203</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 86</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="17"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="81-6-203" type="amend" src="code" uid="C81-6-S203_2026050620260506" sort="81 06 02030020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="81-6-203" numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="19">Section 1. Section <bold>81-6-203</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="20"><bold>81-6-203<parens/>. Determination of gross income for child support -- Imputing income to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-3"/>a parent.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-4" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Each parent shall provide verification of current income to the court or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-5"/>administrative agency.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-6" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Each parent shall provide year-to-date pay stubs or employer statements and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-7"/>complete copies of tax returns from at least the most recent year, unless the court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-8"/>finds the verification is not reasonably available.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-9" level="2"><display>(c)</display>Verification of income from records maintained by the Department of Workforce <ln numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-10"/>Services may be substituted for pay stubs, employer statements, and income tax <ln numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-11"/>returns.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-12" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>To calculate gross income of a parent, the court or administrative agency may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-13"/>include:<subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-14" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>prospective income of the parent, including income from earned and nonearned <ln numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-15"/>sources, such as salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, rents, gifts from <ln numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-16"/>anyone, prizes, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, alimony <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-17"/>from previous marriages, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits, worker <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-18"/>compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, income replacement <ln numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-19"/>disability insurance benefits,<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="2" groupid="2" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both"> Social Security Disability Insurance,</amend> and payments <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-20"/>from nonmeans-tested government programs; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-21" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>income imputed to the parent as described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-6-203(6)">(6)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-22" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Income from earned income sources is limited to the equivalent of one full-time <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-23"/>40-hour job.  </subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-24" level="2"><display>(c)</display>If and only if during the time before the original support order, the parent normally <ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-25"/>and consistently worked more than 40 hours at the parent's job, the court may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-26"/>consider this extra time as a pattern in calculating the parent's ability to provide child <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-27"/>support.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-28" level="1" space="false"><display>(3)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The court or administrative agency shall use historical and current earnings to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-29"/>determine whether an underemployment or overemployment situation exists.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-30" level="2"><display>(b)</display>When establishing or modifying a child support order for an obligor who is a parent <ln numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-31"/>and incarcerated, the office shall follow the requirements of Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="81-6-211.5">81-6-211.5</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-32" level="1" space="false"><display>(4)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>To calculate income from self-employment or operation of a business, the court or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-33"/>administrative agency:<subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-34" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>shall calculate gross income from self-employment or operation of a business by <ln numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-35"/>subtracting necessary expenses required for self-employment or business <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-36"/>operation from gross receipts;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-17" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-37" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>shall review income and expenses from self-employment or operation of a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-38"/>business to determine an appropriate level of gross income available to the parent <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-39"/>to satisfy a child support award; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-18" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-40" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iii)</display>may only deduct those expenses necessary to allow the business to operate at a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-41"/>reasonable level from gross receipts.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-19" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-42" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Gross income determined under this Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-6-203(4)">(4)</xref> may differ from the amount of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-43"/>business income determined for tax purposes.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-20" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-44" level="1"><display>(5)</display>When possible, the court or administrative agency shall determine the average monthly <ln numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-45"/>gross income for each parent by:<subsection ssid="1-null-21" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-46" level="2"><display>(a)</display>calculating the gross income of each parent on an annual basis; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-22" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-47" level="2"><display>(b)</display>dividing the annual gross income for each parent by 12.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-23" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-48" level="1" space="false"><display>(6)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-24" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The court or administrative agency may not impute income to a parent unless the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-49"/>parent stipulates to the amount imputed, the parent defaults, or, in contested cases, a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-50"/>hearing is held and the court or administrative agency enters findings of fact as to the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-51"/>evidentiary basis for the imputation.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-25" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-52" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If income is imputed to a parent, the court or administrative agency shall base <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-53"/>income upon employment potential and probable earnings considering, to the extent <ln numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-54"/>known:<subsection ssid="1-null-26" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-55" level="3"><display>(i)</display>employment opportunities;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-27" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-56" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>work history;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-28" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-57" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>occupation qualifications;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-29" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-58" level="3"><display>(iv)</display>educational attainment;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-30" dnum="v-o" numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-59" level="3"><display>(v)</display>literacy;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-31" dnum="vi-o" numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-60" level="3"><display>(vi)</display>age;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-32" dnum="vii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-61" level="3"><display>(vii)</display>health;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-33" dnum="viii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-62" level="3"><display>(viii)</display>criminal record;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-34" dnum="ix-o" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-63" level="3"><display>(ix)</display>other employment barriers and background factors; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-35" dnum="x-o" numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-64" level="3"><display>(x)</display>prevailing earnings and job availability for persons of similar backgrounds in the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-65"/>community.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-36" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-66" level="2"><display>(c)</display>If a parent has no recent work history or a parent's occupation is unknown, the court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-67"/>or administrative agency may impute an income to that parent at the federal <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-68"/>minimum wage for a 40-hour work week.  </subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-37" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-69" level="2"><display>(d)</display>To impute a greater or lesser income, the court or administrative agency shall enter <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-70"/>specific findings of fact as to the evidentiary basis for the imputation.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-38" dnum="e-o" numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-71" level="2"><display>(e)</display>The court or administrative agency may not impute income to a parent if any of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-72"/>following conditions exist and the condition is not of a temporary nature:<subsection ssid="1-null-39" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-73" level="3"><display>(i)</display>the reasonable costs of child care for the parents' minor child approach or equal <ln numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-74"/>the amount of income the custodial parent can earn;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-40" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-75" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>a parent is physically or mentally unable to earn minimum wage;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-41" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-76" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>a parent is engaged in career or occupational training to establish basic job skills; <ln numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-77"/>or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-42" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-78" level="3"><display>(iv)</display>unusual emotional or physical needs of a child require the custodial parent's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-79"/>presence in the home.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-43" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-80" level="1"><display>(7)</display>Notwithstanding Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-6-203(2)">(2)</xref>, the court or administrative agency may not include the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-81"/>following sources of income when calculating the gross income of a parent:<subsection ssid="1-null-44" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="1-82" level="2"><display>(a)</display>cash assistance provided under Title 35A, Chapter 3, Part 3, Family Employment <ln numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="1-83"/>Program;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-45" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="1-84" level="2"><display>(b)</display>benefits received under a housing subsidy program, the Job Training Partnership Act, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="1-85"/>Supplemental Security Income, <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="3" groupid="3" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">Social Security Disability Insurance, </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>Medicaid, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="1-86"/>SNAP benefits, or General Assistance;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-46" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="1-87" level="2"><display>(c)</display>other similar means-tested welfare benefits received by a parent;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-47" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="1-88" level="2"><display>(d)</display>the earned income of a child who is the subject of a child support award; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-48" dnum="e-o" numlevel="1" lineno="107" slineno="1-89" level="2"><display>(e)</display>except as otherwise provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-6-203(8)">(8)</xref>, the benefits to a child in the child's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="108" slineno="1-90"/>own right, such as Supplemental Security Income.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-49" dnum="8-o" numlevel="1" lineno="109" slineno="1-91" level="1" space="false"><display>(8)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-50" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The court or administrative agency shall credit, as child support, the amount of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="110" slineno="1-92"/>social security benefits received by a child due to the earnings of the parent on whose <ln numlevel="1" lineno="111" slineno="1-93"/>earning record the social security benefits are based by crediting the amount against <ln numlevel="1" lineno="112" slineno="1-94"/>the potential obligation of that parent.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-51" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="113" slineno="1-95" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The court or administrative agency may consider other unearned income of a child as <ln numlevel="1" lineno="114" slineno="1-96"/>income of a parent depending upon the circumstances of each case.</subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="2" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="115" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="115">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="116"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-9-26 2:42 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>