HBA-NLM H.B. 444 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 444
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/3/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no limitation to the amount of retroactive child
support that a person may be ordered to pay.  There is concern that the
amount owed  may be an encumbered amount that a person may not be able to
pay, particularly in circumstances in which the parent was not previously
informed of child support obligations.  H.B.444 provides that the total
amount of retroactive child support that a parent may be ordered to pay may
not exceed the amount which would accumulate over four years prior to the
date of the court order.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 154.009 (a), Family Code, to specify that the
amount of retroactive child support a court may order a parent to pay under
this subsection may not exceed the total amount that would have been
accumulated over the four years prior to the date of the court's order.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.