SRC-HRD, JRN C.S.H.B. 1880 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   C.S.H.B. 1880
By: Thompson (Truan)
International Relations Trade & Technology
5-9-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


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 federal government or
political subdivisions thereof regarding the enforcement of child support
and custody orders.                                                        
           
PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.H.B. 1880 allows the Attorney General's Office to pursue
negotiations for reciprocal agreements with other nations and federal
government or political subdivisions thereof 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 (agency) in accordance with certain provisions and upon
approval by and in cooperation with the governor, to pursue negotiations
and enter into reciprocal arrangements with the federal government,
another state, or a foreign county or a political subdivision of the
federal government, state, or foreign county to establish and enforce
child support obligations and establish mechanism to enforce an order
providing for possession of or access to a child rendered under Chapter
153.  Authorizes the agency, in accordance with certain provisions, to
spend money appropriated to the agency for child support enforcement to
engage in international child support enforcement and to spend other money
appropriated to the agency necessary for the agency to conduct the
agency's activities under Subdivision (l).  Makes conforming changes. 

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

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 231.002, Family Code, by removing proposed Subdivision
(a)(5).  Sets forth  Subsection (d) regarding certain negotiations and
spending related to child support enforcement.