Ohio softens child-support penalties

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Changes to Ohio’s child- support laws mean that parents who pay at least half of their court-ordered support will no longer face suspension of their driver’s or professional licenses.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that the new law — which was tacked on to the recently-passed state budget — takes effect Wednesday.

Another provision of the law will let parents scrub past child support-related suspensions from their driving record.

The measure is aimed at encouraging parents to work, rather than cracking down on them when they can’t or don’t make payments.