SRC-JBJ C.S.S.B. 886 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 886 76R13190 MCK-DBy: Harris Jurisprudence 4/27/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, domestic relations offices and other friends of the court programs handle child support cases in lieu of the attorney general's office. The domestic relations office collects fees for noncompliance orders. However, because of these offices' largely successful efforts to monitor cases, noncompliance rates are relatively low. The resultant fees do not compensate for the costs of operating these offices, and counties are forced to subsidize the offices' operations. Charging the managing and possessory conservators a fee would offset the operating cost of the domestic relations offices. C.S.S.B. 886 would authorize a court to charge a $5 fee per month to the obligor in child support cases. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 886 authorizes a court to charge a $5 monthly fee to the obligor in child support cases. 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 Chapter 202, Family Code, by adding Section 202.006, as follows: Sec. 202.006. FEES. Authorizes a court to permit a friend of the court that is a domestic relations office to assess and collect a monthly monitoring fee not to exceed $5 to be paid by the obligor for up to 12 months after the support or enforcement order is filed with the friend of the court. Requires the friend of the court to deposit the fee in certain funds. Requires the administering entity to use the funds received under this section to provide services under this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends proposed Section 202.006, Family Code, to change the authority of a friend of the court to collect fees for child support orders or noncompliance orders.