Tuesday, April 17, 2001 | 11:39 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A bill raising the maximum amount for child support and giving yearly increases based on the consumer price index was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee Monday.
The present law provides that a parent would have to give 18 percent of his gross pay for one child, or a maximum of $500. The percentage of gross pay goes up with the number of children that must be supported. But the maximum stays at $500 per child.
The committee adopted a sliding scale based on income for the maximum. For instance, those who earn less than $50,000 would still face a maximum of $500 per month per child. Those who make up to $75,000 would pay $550; up to $100,000 would be assessed a maximum of $600; from $100,000 to $125,000, $650 a month; above $125,000 to $150,000, $700; above $150,000 to $175,000, $750, and above that $800.
Myra Sheehan, president of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, said the $500 maximum was set 13 years ago. "Right now it is too low," she said. The original bill called for a flat $785 maximum, regardless of income.
Assemblyman John Carpenter, R-Elko, said the maximum needs to be raised, but he was concerned with individuals with low incomes. He said he was also concerned about the parent who has a second family and who makes less than $75,000 a year.
Assembly Bill 37 goes to the floor of the Assembly.
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