HBA-JRA H.B. 1271 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1271
By: Dutton
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
4/15/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a court may assess the expenses of attorney's fees against
either or both parties in a suit for dissolution of marriage.  H.B. 1271
provides that, in a suit for dissolution of marriage or a suit affecting
the parent-child relationship, an award of attorney's fees is not
enforceable by contempt of court. 

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 Subchapter H, Chapter 6, Family Code, by adding Section
6.7085, as follows: 

Sec. 6.7085.  ATTORNEY'S FEES.  Provides that an award of attorney's fees
in a proceeding under this chapter (Suit for Dissolution of Marriage) is
not enforceable by contempt, notwithstanding any other provision of law. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 106.002, Family Code, by adding Subsection (c),
as follows: 

(c) Provides that an award of attorney's fees in a proceeding under this
title (The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the
Parent-Child Relationship) is not enforceable by contempt, notwithstanding
any other provision of law. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.