By Madla                                        S.B. No. 1213

      75R8986 MWV-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain powers of domestic relations offices.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 203.004(a), Family Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  A domestic relations office may:

 1-7                 (1)  collect and disburse child support payments that

 1-8     are ordered by a court to be paid through a domestic relations

 1-9     registry;

1-10                 (2)  maintain records of payments and disbursements

1-11     made under Subdivision (1);

1-12                 (3)  file a suit, including a suit or other action to:

1-13                       (A)  establish paternity;

1-14                       (B)  enforce a court order for child support or

1-15     for possession of and access to a child;  and

1-16                       (C)  modify or clarify an existing child support

1-17     order;

1-18                 (4)  provide an informal forum in which mediation is

1-19     used to resolve disputes in an action under Subdivision (3);

1-20                 (5)  prepare a court-ordered social study;

1-21                 (6)  represent a child as guardian ad litem in a suit

1-22     in which:

1-23                       (A)  termination of the parent-child relationship

1-24     is sought;  or

 2-1                       (B)  conservatorship of or access to a child is

 2-2     contested;

 2-3                 (7)  serve as a friend of the court;

 2-4                 (8)  provide predivorce counseling ordered by a court;

 2-5                 (9)  provide community supervision services under

 2-6     Chapter 157;  and

 2-7                 (10)  provide information to assist a party in

 2-8     understanding, complying with, or enforcing the party's duties and

 2-9     obligations under Subdivision (3).

2-10           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.