1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the collection of child support payments made after 1-3 termination of the child support order. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Family Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 154.012 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 154.012. SUPPORT PAID AFTER TERMINATION OF SUPPORT 1-8 ORDER. (a) If the obligor is not in arrears, an obligee shall 1-9 return to an obligor a child support payment made by the obligor 1-10 after the date the child support order has terminated. 1-11 (b) An obligor may file a suit to recover a child support 1-12 payment under Subsection (a). If the court finds that the obligee 1-13 failed to return a child support payment under Subsection (a), the 1-14 court shall order the obligee to pay to the obligor attorney's fees 1-15 and all court costs in addition to the amount of support paid after 1-16 the date the child support order terminated. For good cause shown, 1-17 the court may waive the requirement that the obligee pay attorney's 1-18 fees and costs if the court states the reasons supporting that 1-19 finding. 1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and 1-21 applies to a child support payment made on or after that date. A 1-22 child support payment made before the effective date of this Act 1-23 is governed by the law in effect on the date the payment was made, 1-24 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-1 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-5 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. 2594 was passed by the House on April 30, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2594 was passed by the Senate on May 17, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor