Vermont H 108: An act relating to the disproportionate share hospital payment formula

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.108
2025 Page 1 of 2

VT LEG #378760 v.1
H.108 1
Introduced by Representative Rachelson of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Domestic relations; penalty for desertion or nonsupport 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to repeal the 6
criminal penalty for failure of an adult child to support the adult child’s parent 7
if that parent is destitute and unable to support themselves. 8
An act relating to filial support 9
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 10
Sec. 1. 15 V.S.A. § 202 is amended to read: 11
§ 202. PENALTY FOR DESERTION OR NONSUPPORT 12
A married person who, without just cause, shall desert or willfully neglect 13
or refuse to provide for the support and maintenance of his or her the person’s 14
spouse and children, leaving them in destitute or necessitous circumstances or 15
a parent who, without lawful excuse, shall desert or willfully neglect or refuse 16
to provide for the support and maintenance of his or her the child or an adult 17
child possessed of sufficient pecuniary or physical ability to support his or her 18
parents, who unreasonably neglects or refuses to provide such support when 19
the parent is destitute, unable to support himself or herself, and resident in this 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.108
2025 Page 2 of 2

VT LEG #378760 v.1
State, shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than 1
$300.00, or both. Should a fine be imposed, the court may order the same to 2
be paid in whole or in part to the needy spouse, parent, or to the guardian, 3
custodian, or trustee of the child. The Office of Child Support attorneys, in 4
addition to any other duly authorized person, may prosecute cases under this 5
section in Vermont Superior Court. 6
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 7
This act shall take effect on passage. 8