SRC-SLL, JBJ S.B. 686 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 686
 By: Brown
Jurisprudence
8/10/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, a child support lien may be filed with the county clerk for past
due child support.  The clerk may not charge a filing fee to the attorney
general's office, a domestic relations office, or a friend of the court.
But other individuals filing the lien are charged.  S.B. 686 amends Section
157.315(b), Family Code, to prohibit any individual from being required to
pay a fee for recording a notice of lien or for releasing the lien. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 686 prohibits certain individuals from being required to
pay a fee in order to file a lien in a child support matter. 

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 157.315, Family Code, by amending Subsection (b)
and adding Subsection (c), to prohibit a county clerk from charging any
party a fee for recording the notice of a lien.  Requires the lien notice
to be styled "Notice of Child Support Lien" to qualify for the exemption.
Prohibits the county from charging certain persons a fee for recording the
release of a lien.  Deletes a requirement that the county shall collect
fees from the obligor filing the release. Makes conforming and
nonsubstantive changes. 

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

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.