Reform child support laws in Illinois

Currently the law in Illinois uses a percentage of net salary to determine how much a non-custodial parent should pay for child support.

The average cost of living index for raising a child is currently $882 per month. Even the state's foster child program pays approx. $404 per month for each child.

If a non-custodial parent makes an average salary of $35,600 per year, for 3 children he/she would only pay $949 per month, or $316 per child.

Currently, if a non-custodial parent is chooses to be unemployed, underemployed, or is self-employed and receives cash, the state has no recourse for demanding he/she pay a fair share of the child's expenses.

The custodial parent is then expected to not only provide for their half of the childrens' expenses, but make up for the difference of the cost of living vs. what the non-custodial parent is paying, as well as providing for the physical and emotional care of the children.

This system is adding to the need for many single parent households to be on welfare.

Even a typical high school graduate, making an average salary of $30,400 per year, could support 3 children if the other parent was required to provided the necessary $1323 per month, as indicated by the current cost of living index.