SRC-JBJ H.B. 2354 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2354 By: Goodman (Harris) Jurisprudence 5/7/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, the attorney general's child support division (Title IV-D agency) offers a 66 percent federal funding match to a county for child support services that the county provides. Due to an increase in the filing of child support cases along with complex state and federal mandates, counties expend resources to cover costs and expenses of providing child support services without 100 percent funding. H.B. 2354 would require the Title IV-D agency to be liable for the amount of costs and fees that represent the state share if the federal government disallows a federal share of reimbursement or if the federal share is not otherwise received. It also makes the Title IV-D agency liable for establishing and operating the state case registry and state disbursement unit for maintaining and monitoring records of child support orders and obligations. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2354 amends regulations regarding the liability of the Title IV-D agency for certain costs incurred in providing child support services. 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 231.205, Family Code, to require the Title IV-D agency to be liable for the amount of costs and fees that represent the state share, if an amount is disallowed by the federal government or the federal share is not otherwise received. Deletes existing Subsection (a), making the Title IV-D agency liable for certain fees and costs under this subchapter. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 234A, Family Code, by adding Section 234.006, as follows: Sec. 234.006. LIABILITY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COSTS AND FEES. Provides that the Title IV-D agency is liable for the costs incurred in establishing and operating the state case registry and state disbursement unit. Requires the agency to reimburse a county for the expenses incurred by the county in the initial gathering of data regarding court orders necessary to establish the records under Section 234.001. Requires the agency to provide to a local registry certain computer resources. Prohibits the agency from charging a county a fee for obtaining information from the state case registry and state disbursement unit. SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4.Emergency clause.