TALLAHASSEE- Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday officially approved a controversial bill that would eliminate permanent alimony, the legislature's fourth attempt in recent years to rewrite the state's alimony laws.
The bill (SB 1416) would, among other things, eliminate permanent alimony and create a formula for alimony payments based on the length of the marriage.
Among other things, it will allow maintenance payers to apply for modifications if “a supportive relationship existed or has existed” with their former spouse in the previous year.
DeSantis, who is running for president, vetoed one child support bill last year, and former Gov. Rick Scott vetoed two child support measures.
But after years of wrangling over the issue, the Florida Bar's Family Law Section and advocates of an overhaul of the system have agreed to this year's version.
The bill was discussed without any problems in Parliament and finally passed on 2 May.
However, the proposal was met with criticism from members of the First Wives Advocacy group, which is made up primarily of older women who rely on long-term child support payments.
Proponents of the measure claim that court rulings on permanent maintenance payments would thereby be “codified” in state law.
Senator Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who sponsored the bill, argued that the proposed changes would not have an unconstitutional impact on existing child support agreements – an issue DeSantis had already raised with his veto last year.
However, other supporters of the measure acknowledged that it would allow for a change in existing indefinite maintenance arrangements.
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