SRC-AXB H.B. 1348 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1348 76R5141 KLA-DBy: Goodman (Harris) Jurisprudence 4/9/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, a decedent's estate is prioritized with confinement costs related to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and claims for repayment of medical assistance, ahead of claims for child support. Consequently, claims against a decedent's estate for delinquent child support fall in the very lowest, "catch-all" category, where there is insufficient money to cover all these claims. H.B. 1348 prioritizes claims for child support payments ahead of claims for confinement costs and medical assistance against a decedent's estate. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1348 places claims for child support payments ahead of claims for confinement costs and medical assistance against a decedent's estate. 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 322, Texas Probate Code, to provide that claims for certain amounts of money for child support issues that have been confirmed under Chapter 157F, Family Code, are prioritized as Class 5, in a list of claims against a decedent's estate. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.