1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the accrual of interest on delinquent child support.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 157.265(a), Family Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  Interest accrues on the portion of delinquent child
 1-7     support that is greater than the amount of the monthly periodic
 1-8     support obligation at the rate of 12 percent simple interest per
 1-9     year from the date the support is delinquent until the date the
1-10     support is paid or the arrearages are confirmed and reduced to
1-11     money judgment.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Section 157.266(a), Family Code, is amended to
1-13     read as follows:
1-14           (a)  A child support payment is delinquent for the purpose of
1-15     accrual of interest if the payment is not received before the 31st
1-16     day after the payment date stated in the order by:
1-17                 (1)  the local registry, [or] Title IV-D registry, or
1-18     state disbursement unit; or
1-19                 (2)  the obligee or entity specified in the order, if
1-20     payments are not made through a registry.
1-21           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2000, and
1-22     applies only to a child support payment that becomes due on or
1-23     after that date.  A child support payment that becomes due before
1-24     the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
 2-1     the date the child support payment became due, and the former law
 2-2     is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-3           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2421 was passed by the House on May
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2421 on May 26, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2421 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor