§ 415. Duties to support recipient of public assistance or welfare and
patients in institutions in the department of mental hygiene. Except as
otherwise provided by law, the spouse or parent of a recipient of public
assistance or care or of a person liable to become in need thereof or of
a patient in an institution in the department of mental hygiene, if of
sufficient ability, is responsible for the support of such person or
patient, provided that a parent shall be responsible only for the
support of his child or children who have not attained the age of
twenty-one years. In its discretion, the court may require any such
person to contribute a fair and reasonable sum for the support of such
relative and may apportion the costs of such support among such persons
as may be just and appropriate in view of the needs of the petitioner
and the other circumstances of the case and their respective means.
Step-parents shall in like manner be responsible for the support of
children under the age of twenty-one years.