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.