By Uher                                                H.B. No. 803
         76R532 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the accrual of interest on certain child support
 1-3     payments and money judgments.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 157.265, Family Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 157.265. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST ON CHILD SUPPORT.  (a)
 1-8     Interest accrues on delinquent child support at the rate of six
 1-9     [12] percent simple interest per year from the date the support is
1-10     delinquent until the date the  support is paid or the arrearages
1-11     are confirmed and reduced to money judgment.
1-12           (b)  Interest accrues on child support arrearages that have
1-13     been confirmed and reduced to money judgment as provided in this
1-14     subchapter at the rate of six [12] percent simple interest per year
1-15     from the date the order is rendered until  the date the judgment is
1-16     paid.
1-17           (c)  Interest accrues on a money judgment for retroactive or
1-18     lump-sum child support at the annual rate of six [12] percent
1-19     simple interest from the date the order is rendered until the
1-20     judgment is paid.
1-21           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect January 1, 2000.
1-22           (b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a
1-23     child support payment that is due on or after the effective date of
1-24     this Act or a money judgment for child support arrearages,
 2-1     retroactive child support, or lump-sum child support that is
 2-2     rendered on or after the effective date of this Act.
 2-3           (c)  A child support payment that is due or a money judgment
 2-4     that is rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed
 2-5     by the law in effect on the date the payment becomes due or the
 2-6     judgment is rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for
 2-7     that purpose.
 2-8           (d)  The enactment of this Act does not by itself constitute
 2-9     a material and substantial change of circumstances sufficient to
2-10     warrant modification of an order that provides for the support of a
2-11     child rendered before the effective date of this Act.
2-12           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.