SRC-HRD H.B. 1880 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1880
By: Thompson (Truan)
International Relations, Trade & Technology
4-28-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

In the last 15 years, federal laws, international treaties and state
legislation have provided numerous tools to enforce child support, custody
and visitation rights.  Still, parents and relatives who cannot abide by
court orders too often resort to extrajudicial child abduction, imposing
emotional damage upon the abducted children and financial damage upon the
legal custodians and conservators who fight back.  New state laws and
services can ease the financial and emotional  burdens placed upon parents
and their abducted children, speeding the return of children and deterring
future abductors. The Judicial Affairs Committee, in the interim, studied
parental kidnapping and made a recommendation, suggested by the Attorney
General's Office, which would require some time to arrange the diplomatic
negotiations and passage of corresponding statutes to implement, to allow
the Attorney General's office to negotiate with other nations regarding
the enforcement of child support and custody orders.
                                                                         
This bill would allow the Attorney General's Office to pursue negotiations
for reciprocal agreements with other nations and jurisdictions regarding
the enforcement of child support and custody orders.
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1880 allows the Attorney General's Office to pursue
negotiations for reciprocal agreements with other nations and
jurisdictions regarding the enforcement of child support and custody
orders.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 231.002(a), Family Code, to authorize the Title
IV-D agency to pursue negotiations and enter into agreements with other
nations or their political subdivisions to provide for the international
establishment and enforcement of child support and child custody orders.
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.