By Truitt                                             H.B. No. 3101
         76R1767 MXM-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a court's consideration of the child support guidelines
 1-3     for single and multiple families.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Sections 156.402(a) and (b), Family Code, are
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The court may consider the child support guidelines for
 1-8     single and multiple families under Chapter 154 [in Chapter 153] to
 1-9     determine whether there has been a material or substantial change
1-10     of circumstances under this chapter that warrants a modification of
1-11     an existing  child support order if the modification is in the best
1-12     interest of the child.
1-13           (b)  If the amount of support contained in the order does not
1-14     substantially conform with the guidelines for single and multiple
1-15     families under Chapter 154, the court may modify the order to
1-16     substantially conform with the guidelines if  the modification is
1-17     in the best interest of the child.  A court may consider other
1-18     relevant evidence in addition to the factors listed in the
1-19     guidelines.
1-20           SECTION 2.  Section 156.406, Family Code, is amended to read
1-21     as follows:
1-22           Sec. 156.406.  USE OF GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN IN MORE THAN
1-23     ONE HOUSEHOLD.   In applying the child support guidelines in a suit
1-24     under this subchapter, if the obligor has the duty to support
 2-1     children in more than one household, the court shall apply the
 2-2     percentage guidelines for multiple families under Chapter 154 [in
 2-3     Chapter 153].
 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.