The Florida Capitol drew quite a heated crowd this past Tuesday.
Advocates and opponents of the bill (SB 668) that could potentially end permanent alimony and encourage equal time for child custody gathered in the waiting room and hallway of Governor Rick Scott’s office although Scott was nowhere to be found. Governor Scott was in central Florida.Lobbyist Barbara DeVane of the Florida National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) had scheduled a meeting with Scott’s staff at 11:00a.m. to chronicle their condemnation of the bill. Along with about half a dozen women’s groups opposed to the bill were also supporters, such as the Family Law Reform advocacy group. Together, opposing sides to this bill gathered in Scott’s office lobby and engaged in fiery exchanges. The bill passed the Senate 24-14 and in the House 74-38.
Governor Scott has until April 19th to either sign or veto the bill. If no action is taken on his behalf, it would become law without his signature. Previously, in 2013, Scott had vetoed a bill similar to this one on the grounds that it applied retroactively and would be unfair to spouses that depended on child support payments in divorce cases that had been already disposed.
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So what is the big stink all about? Well, the bill revises laws on the amount and duration of alimony awarded and encourages equal time-sharing for minor children between both parents – 50/50 custody. Basically, it creates a new formula for deciding alimony payments based on disparity of income, the duration of marriage, and caps the alimony and child support cocktail at 55 percent of the obligor’s income. It would also end permanent alimony.
If approved by Scott, these new provisions would take effect October 1, 2016.