By: Harris S.B. No. 514
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the availability of health insurance for certain
1-2 children the subject of a child support order.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 14.061, Family Code, is amended by
1-5 amending Subsection (b) and by adding Subsection (s) to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 (b) In determining the manner in which health insurance for
1-8 the child is to be provided, the court shall consider the following
1-9 factors:
1-10 (1) if health insurance is available and accessible
1-11 for the child through the obligor's employment or membership in a
1-12 union, trade association, or other organization, the court shall
1-13 order the obligor to include the child in the obligor's health
1-14 insurance unless either party shows good cause why such an order
1-15 would not be in the best interest of the child; or
1-16 (2) if health insurance is not available for the child
1-17 through the obligor's employment but is available and accessible
1-18 for the child through the obligee's employment or membership in a
1-19 union, trade association, or other organization, the court may
1-20 order the obligee to provide health insurance for the child and, in
1-21 such event, shall order the obligor to pay in <an> additional child
1-22 support to be withheld from disposable earnings under Section 14.43
1-23 of this code to the obligee the actual cost of the health insurance
1-24 for the child unless either party shows good cause why such an
2-1 order would not be in the best interest of the child; or
2-2 (3) if health insurance is not available for the child
2-3 through either the obligor's or obligee's employment, the court
2-4 shall order the obligor to provide health insurance for the child
2-5 if the court finds that health insurance is available and
2-6 accessible for the child from another source and the obligor is
2-7 financially able to provide it unless either party shows good cause
2-8 why such an order would not be in the best interest of the child.
2-9 (s) The legislature encourages the commissioner of insurance
2-10 to attempt to create a pool for health insurance from which a child
2-11 may obtain health care coverage if a person does not comply with a
2-12 court order under this section or the person chooses to purchase
2-13 health insurance from the pool.
2-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.