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HR 3811 105th Congress House

Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998

Official title: To establish felony violations for the failure to pay legal child support obligations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 7, 1998 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Abandonment of familyChild supportChild support enforcementCompensation for victims of crime
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District courtsEvidence (Law)FamiliesFines (Penalties)Fugitives from justiceInterstate commerceJurisdictionLawRecidivistsSentences (Criminal procedure)Social WelfareTransportation and Public Works
 Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 24, 1998
Became Public Law No: 105-187.
Jun 24, 1998
Signed by President.
Jun 18, 1998
Presented to President.
Jun 9, 1998
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 5, 1998
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5734)
Jun 5, 1998
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5734)
May 13, 1998
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 369.
May 12, 1998
Mr. McCollum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 12, 1998
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3042-3046, H3065-3066)
May 12, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 12, 1998
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 16 (Roll No. 139).
May 12, 1998
Considered as unfinished business.
May 12, 1998
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 12, 1998
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
May 7, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 7, 1998
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 12, 1998 House · vote #139 Suspend the rules and pass Passed 402–16 See who voted →
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 Latest action June 24, 1998

Became Public Law No: 105-187.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998 - Amends Federal criminal law to prescribe criminal penalties (including mandatory restitution) for willful failure to pay child support obligations.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3811: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3811/
MLA
"H.R. 3811: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3811/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3811, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3811/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3811: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3811/)
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