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*hb1490*
HOUSE BILL 1490
O1 6lr2684
By: Delegates Shetty, Acevero, Cullison, Hill, D. Jones, Kaufman, Lehman, Lewis,
McCaskill, Palakovich Carr, Ruff, Smith, Solomon, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Family Investment Program – Temporary Cash Assistance – Good Cause and 2
Adequate Reason Exceptions 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Department of Human Services from denying an 4
application or reducing or terminating temporary cash assistance from an individual 5
if the individual has good cause or an adequate reason for noncooperation with child 6
support under certain criteria; requiring the Secretary of Human Services to 7
establish certain criteria for determining good cause for noncooperation with child 8
support; requiring the Family Investment Program to determine that there is good 9
cause for noncooperation with child support using certain criteria; requiring the 10
Child Support Enforcement Agency Administration to determine that there is 11
adequate reason for noncoo peration with child support using certain criteria; and 12
generally relating to temporary cash assistance. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Human Services 15
Section 5–101(c) 5–101(c) and (e), 5–301(c), and 5–308(c) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – Human Services 20
Section 5–308(d) through (g) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1490
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
Article – Human Services 3
Section 5–308(d) and 5–312(e) 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 8
Article – Human Services 9
5–101. 10
(c) “Department” means the Department of Human Services. 11
(e) “Local department” means: 12
(1) a local department of social services created or continued in a county 13
under § 3–201 of this article; or 14
(2) in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County government. 15
5–301. 16
(c) “FIP” means the Family Investment Program. 17
5–308. 18
(c) (1) Assistance for an individual may not be reduced or terminated for 19
noncompliance with the work activity requirement if the individual has good cause under 20
the criteria established by the Secretary. 21
(2) The criteria shall provide that any of the following are sufficient to show 22
good cause: 23
(i) temporary illness or incapacity; 24
(ii) court–required appearances or temporary incarceration; 25
(iii) domestic violence; 26
(iv) a family crisis that threatens normal family functioning, 27
including: 28
1. experiencing homelessness whereby a family: 29
HOUSE BILL 1490 3
A. lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, 1
or shares the housing of other persons due t o the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a 2
similar reason; 3
B. lives in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground due 4
to a lack of alternative accommodations; 5
C. lives in an emergency shelter or transitional housing; 6
D. resides in a primary nighttime residence that is a public 7
or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation 8
for human beings; or 9
E. lives in a car park, public space, vacant or abandoned 10
building, substandard housing, bus station, train station, or similar setting; 11
2. a housing crisis, including eviction, foreclosure, or other 12
loss of housing; or 13
3. receiving a utility disconnection notice or having a utility 14
disconnected; 15
(v) a breakdown in transportation arrangements; 16
(vi) a breakdown in child care arrangements or lack of child care for 17
a child or children who are 12 years old or younger; 18
(vii) for a single parent caring for a child younger than 6 years old 19
who is unable to obtain child care: 20
1. the unavailability of appropriate child care within a 21
reasonable distance from the parent’s home or work site; 22
2. the unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care 23
by a relative or others; or 24
3. the unavailability or unsuitability of appropriate and 25
affordable child care arrangements; 26
(viii) a lack of supportive services identified and agreed on by an 27
individual and a local department; or 28
(ix) the failure of a local department to offer or provide a reasonable 29
accommodation to an individual with a disability. 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1490
(D) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “GOOD CAUSE ” MEANS THAT 1
CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST IN WHICH COOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT M AY BE 2
AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. 3
(2) (I) THE FIP SHALL DETERMINE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS 4
GOOD CAUSE FOR NONCOOPERA TION WITH CHILD SUPP ORT IF CIRCUMSTANCES 5
EXIST IN WHICH COOPE RATION BY THE INDIVI DUAL WITH CHILD SUPPORT MAY BE 6
AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. 7
(II) THE DEPARTMENT FIP MAY NOT DENY AN APPLICATION OR 8
REDUCE OR TERMINATE ASSISTANCE IF AN INDIVIDU AL HAS GOOD CAUSE FO R 9
NONCOOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT UNDER CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE 10
SECRETARY. 11
(2) (3) THE CRITERIA ESTABLIS HED BY THE SECRETARY SHALL 12
PROVIDE THAT AN INDI VIDUAL HAS GOOD CAUS E FOR NONCOOPERATION IF THE 13
INDIVIDUAL STATES THAT: 14
(I) COOPERATION RISKS PH YSICAL OR EMOTIONAL HARM TO 15
OR RETALIATION AGAIN ST THE CHILD OR THE RELATIVE WITH WHOM T HE CHILD 16
RESIDES; 17
(II) THE CHILD FOR WHOM S UPPORT IS SOUGHT WAS 18
CONCEIVED AS A RESULT OF INCEST OR RAPE; 19
(III) PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE CHIL D ARE 20
PENDING OR UNDER CONSIDERATION; OR 21
(IV) COOPERATION RISKS DI SCOURAGING THE A 22
NONCUSTODIAL PARENT OR OTHER RELATIVES OF THE CHILD FROM MAINTAINING 23
A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILD OR PROVIDING EMOTIONAL OR OTHER SUPPORT; 24
OR 25
(V) COOPERATION IS OTHER WISE NOT IN THE CHIL D’S BEST 26
INTEREST. 27
(3) (4) (I) THE DEPARTMENT FIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 28
GRANTING GOOD CAUSE TO AN INDIV IDUAL FOR NONCOOPERA TION WITH CHILD 29
SUPPORT. 30
(II) IN THE PROCESS OF GRA NTING GOOD CAUSE , THE A FIP 31
WORKER AT A LOCAL DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT MAY NOT CONTACT THE 32
NONCUSTODIAL PARENT FROM WHOM SUPPORT WOULD BE SOUGHT. 33
HOUSE BILL 1490 5
(4) (5) (I) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CLA IMS GOOD CAUSE UNDER 1
THIS SUBTITLE IS NOT REQUIRED TO PRODUCE WRITTEN EVIDENCE. 2
(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT RE QUIRE THIRD –PARTY 3
VERIFICATION TO PROVE GOOD CAUSE. 4
(III) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY PROVI DE AN ORAL OR WRITTEN 5
STATEMENT BY THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO PROVE GOOD CAUSE. 6
(IV) IF AN INDIVIDUAL PROV IDES AN ORAL STATEME NT TO 7
PROVE GOOD CAUSE, A FIP WORKER AT A LOCAL DE PARTMENT SHALL DOCUMENT 8
THE ORAL STATEMENT. 9
(V) IF AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE, THE DEPARTMENT A 10
FIP WORKER AT A LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL ASSIST THE IND IVIDUAL IN 11
PREPARING A WRITTEN STATEMENT OR DOCUMENTING AN ORAL STATEMENT ON A 12
STANDARDIZED FORM CREATED BY THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT. 13
(V) (VI) THE DEPARTMENT FIP MAY NOT REQUIRE A 14
WRITTEN STATEMENT TO BE NOTARIZED O R BE IN ANY OTHER FO RMAT THAT 15
IMPOSES A COST ON THE INDIVIDUAL. 16
(5) (6) BEFORE REFERRING AN I NDIVIDUAL TO THE CHILD 17
SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DURING THE APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION 18
PROCESS FOR ASSISTANCE, THE DEPARTMENT FIP SHALL: 19
(I) ADVISE NOTIFY ALL INDIVIDUALS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF 20
CHILD SUPPORT PASS–THROUGH AND DISREGARD; 21
(II) ADVISE NOTIFY ALL INDIVIDUALS OF T HE RIGHT OF THE 22
INDIVIDUAL TO CLAIM GOOD CAUSE TO NOT COOPERATE WITH CHILD SUPPORT, THE 23
CRITERIA FOR GOOD CAUSE, AND THE TIME FRAME AND PROCESS FOR REQUESTING 24
GOOD CAUSE; 25
(III) NOTIFY ALL INDIVIDUA LS THAT A FIP WORKER CAN 26
PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ASSISTANCE IN REQUESTING GOOD CAUSE; 27
(IV) AT A MINIMUM , PROVIDE THE ADVICE NOTICE REQUIRED 28
UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH: 29
1. IN WRITING ON THE APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE; 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1490
2. ORALLY DURING A PHON E INTERVIEW OR AN 1
IN–PERSON INTERVIEW; AND 2
3. IN ALL WRITTEN FIP NOTICES ABOUT CHILD 3
SUPPORT COMPLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE; AND 4
4. IN ALL ORAL COMMUNIC ATION ABOUT CHILD 5
SUPPORT COMPLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE; 6
(V) PROVIDE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ASSISTANCE IN REQUESTING 7
GOOD CAUSE; AND 8
(IV) (VI) PROVIDE AN INDIVIDUA L WITH AN OPPORTUNIT Y TO 9
CLAIM GOOD CAUSE; AND 10
(V) ASK IF AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING 11
GOOD CAUSE AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN REQUESTED. 12
(E) (1) THE DEPARTMENT FIP MAY NOT DENY AN APPL ICATION OR 13
TERMINATE ASSISTANCE IF THE CHILD SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION DETERMINES 14
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS ADEQUATE REASON FOR NONCOOPERATION WITH CHILD 15
SUPPORT. 16
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER AS SUFFICIENT 17
JUSTIFICATION FOR NO NCOOPERATION WITH CH ILD SUPPORT CIRCUMST ANCES 18
BEYOND AN INDIVIDUAL ’S CONTROL , INCLUDING CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE 19
CONTROL OF AN INDIVI DUAL THAT ARE ADEQUA TE REASONS FOR 20
NONCOOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT INCLUDE: 21
(I) DELIVERY OF MAIL FRO M THE CHILD SUPPORT 22
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ADMINISTRATION TO AN INCORRECT ADDRESS; 23
(II) NATURAL DISASTER OR CIVIL DISORDER; 24
(III) CRITICAL ILLNESS; 25
(IV) A FAMILY CRISIS REQU IRING AN INDIVIDUAL ’S FULL 26
ATTENTION; AND 27
(V) TRAVEL BY AN INDIVIDUAL AWAY FROM HOME, BOTH IN THE 28
PERIOD DURING WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAILED NOT ICES AND DURING WHIC H 29
THE DEPARTMENT SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS. 30
HOUSE BILL 1490 7
(3) THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ADMINISTRATION 1
SHALL DETE RMINE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE REASON FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ’S 2
NONCOOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT USING THE CRITERIA UNDER PARAGRAPH 3
(2) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 4
(F) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY REQ UEST AND RECEIVE A D ETERMINATION THAT 5
THERE IS GOOD CAUSE OR ADEQUATE REASON FOR NONCOOPERATION WITH CHILD 6
SUPPORT AT ANY TIME DURING THE APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PERIOD. 7
(G) (1) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INFO RM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO 8
DOES NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION RELATED TO CHILD S UPPORT 9
THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MAY ATTEST TO THE LACK OF INFORMATION. 10
(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL OFFE R ASSISTANCE WITH 11
PREPARING THE ATTESTATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 12
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER AN INDIVIDUAL W HO 13
ATTESTS TO THE LACK OF INFORMATION TO BE IN COOPERATION WITH CHILD 14
SUPPORT. 15
[(d)] (H) Subject to the State budget, a legal immigrant is entitled to assistance 16
under this subtitle if the immigrant: 17
(1) meets FIP eligibility requirements under this subtitle and any other 18
requirements imposed by the State; and 19
(2) (i) arrived in the United States before August 22, 1996; or 20
(ii) arrived in the United States on or after August 22, 1996 and is 21
not eligible for federally funded cash assistance. 22
5–312. 23
(e) (1) (i) The local department shall impose a 30% reduction of the portion 24
of a recipient’s grant amount designated for the adult member or members, minor parent 25
or parents, or pregnant individual if an adult member, minor parent, or pregnant individual 26
is found to be in noncompliance, without good cause, with FIP work activity requirements. 27
(ii) The portion of the grant amount designated for the child or 28
children of the assistance unit may not be reduced or terminated based on noncompliance 29
by an adult member’s or minor parent’s noncompliance with FIP work activit y 30
requirements. 31
8 HOUSE BILL 1490
(2) The local department shall impose a 25% reduction of the entire grant 1
amount if an adult member or minor parent is found to be in noncompliance without 2
adequate reason or good cause with child support requirements. 3
(3) (i) If a re cipient is found to be in noncompliance with FIP 4
requirements, the local department shall provide a 30 –day conciliation period for each 5
instance of noncompliance. 6
(ii) During the 30 –day conciliation period, the case manager shall 7
advise the recipient of the noncompliance, and help the recipient to comply by: 8
1. investigating the reasons for noncompliance, including by 9
personally contacting the family of the recipient; 10
2. evaluating and preparing a written determination of 11
whether the recipient qualifies for an exemption or good cause under § 5 –308(b) [or], (c), 12
(D), OR (E) of this subtitle; 13
3. sending the recipient a letter offering a conciliation 14
conference; and 15
4. assisting the recipient in identifying and resolving any 16
barriers to compliance. 17
(4) The Secretary may not reduce or terminate temporary cash assistance 18
to a family until 30 days after the day on which the first written notice of noncompliance 19
was sent to the recipient. 20
(5) For noncompliance with a FIP requirement, th e full amount of 21
temporary cash assistance shall resume on compliance with the FIP requirement. 22
(6) If temporary cash assistance is reduced or terminated under this 23
subsection, a recipient shall retain eligibility for medical assistance and food stamps, as 24
long as the recipient meets the medical assistance and food stamp program requirements. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
October 1, 2026. 27