SRC-JBJ C.S.S.B. 686 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 686 By: Brown Jurisprudence 3/30/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.S.B. 686 would amend 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 proposed, C.S.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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 157.315, Family Code, by amending Subsection (b) and (adding Subsection (c), to delete a provision requiring the lien release to be styled "Release of Child Support Lien." 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.