House endorses bill for ‘deadbeat’ parents

AUGUSTA – Maine may take another step to persuade “deadbeat” parents who are behind in child support to pay up.

The House on Wednesday endorsed a bill to allow the revocation of snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle registration from a person who has been certified as failing to comply with a child support order.

The bill, which faces final House and Senate votes, also prohibits the issuance or renewal of snowmobile and ATV registrations in those cases. It authorizes the Health and Human Services Department to review registration records in order to identify those who are in violation of child support orders.

Maine for years has denied motor vehicle, hunting, fishing, professional and other licenses to those who are behind in child support and fail to agree to payment plans.

Last year, a law was enacted to give the state access to cellular phone records of parents who owe child support money.