Fears that Idaho may be compelled to observe Muslim Sharia law have prompted the state's lawmakers to reject a bill on child support.
According to Boise Weekly, the House Judiciary and Rules Committee voted on Friday to stop the passage of Idaho's Senate Bill 1067, which would have kept the State to be up to date with federal regulations by implementing the federal government's system for tracking and enforcing child support.
Boise Weekly reported that Republican lawmakers were concerned that passing the law would force Islamic Sharia law into the state's justice system due to the federal system's conformity to the 2008 amendments to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
The amendments to the Act includes the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Family Maintenance, of which Muslim countries are signatories.
"There is no specific language in the bill that would protect the rights of those dealing with parentage, child support and support orders from a foreign country that would contradict our laws here," one of the bill's opponents, Idaho Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, told the Associated Press.
"There are other countries listed in the treaty—France, Belgium— that have recognised Sharia courts as quasi-courts. So I just feel that you should be aware of those facts."
Idaho Child Support Programme Director Kandace Yearsley criticised the bill's failure, telling Idaho Reports that it would result in a loss of $16 million in federal funds intended to finance the state's child support collection programme.
In addition, Yearsley said, it would also throw into question $30 million in funds for the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programme because the initiative is tied to the state's child support facility.
Speaking over concerns of international law overriding state law, Yearsley said that "less than one per cent of (child support) cases" in the state have international components.
Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare called on residents to speak to their lawmakers and press for the bill's passage.
"The bottom line is that Idaho families may not receive their support money because we will not have the tools we need to make sure those payments are made," Department Director Richard Armstrong said in a statement.
