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Senate Bill 303 |
Senate Author: Harris |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
House Sponsor: Eiland |
Senate Bill 303 updates and revises Family Code provisions relating to health care coverage in a child support order. Among other provisions, the bill clarifies that the cost of cash medical support is included in the items deducted from resources to determine the net resources available for child support, and it prescribes a method for calculating the amount of the deduction for health care coverage if an obligor has other minor dependents covered under the same health care plan. The bill establishes that health care coverage is available at a "reasonable cost" only if it does not exceed nine percent of the responsible parent's specified annual resources, rather than 10 percent of the parent's net income in a month. If the obligor is ordered to pay cash medical support in lieu of health care coverage, the bill provides that the amount is not to exceed nine percent of the obligor's monthly resources, and the obligor must be allowed to discontinue the cash payment if health insurance for the child becomes available at a reasonable cost. The bill requires, rather than allows, a court to increase the amount of child support paid by an obligor to include the actual cost of health insurance coverage provided by the obligee, if the child support order requires the obligee to maintain coverage for the child.