Behind on child support? You couldn’t go hunting in Utah under this new bill

Parents behind on child support payments could soon have a harder time hunting or fishing in Utah.

If a new bill passes, anyone in the state who owes $2,500 or more in child support wouldn’t be allowed to get legal permits from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, KUTV reported.

Under House Bill 197, parents who are behind could not get “a license, permit, or tag related to fishing or hunting if an individual is delinquent in child support,” Fox 30 reported.

More than $404 million in child support is past due in Utah, CNN reported. The state’s Office of Recovery Services requested that the bill be introduced “as an enforcement tool,” CNN said.

“Non-custodial support payments to children help fund their health care, shelter, food and education,” Rep. Karianne Lisbonee, the bill’s sponsor, told CNN. “Loss of this support has a profoundly negative impact on children.”

Once someone is caught up on their payments, they can buy a permit. The new limitations would go into effect on July 1, 2021, if the bill passes.

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Behind on child support? You couldn’t go hunting in Utah under this new bill."