By Lucio                                              S.B. No. 1417
         76R9410 JMM-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of the Title IV-D agency to offer direct
 1-3     deposit of child support payments to obligees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 234, Family Code, as added
 1-6     by Chapter 911, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
 1-7     1997, is amended by adding Section 234.006 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 234.006.  DIRECT DEPOSIT OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.  (a)
 1-9     The state disbursement unit authorized under this subchapter may
1-10     transmit a child  support payment to an obligee by electronic funds
1-11     transfer if the obligee maintains an account with a financial
1-12     institution.
1-13           (b)  The workgroup convened under this subchapter may develop
1-14     a plan to assist an obligee who does not have an account with a
1-15     financial institution to obtain an account.
1-16           (c)  The workgroup may determine whether it is feasible and
1-17     cost-effective for the state to administer an electronic benefits
1-18     transfer system for child support obligees and may consider
1-19     proposals from financial institutions to administer the system.
1-20           (d)  After receiving any recommendations by the workgroup
1-21     under Subsection (c) and complying with applicable notice and
1-22     bidding requirements, the Title IV-D agency may contract with a
1-23     suitable financial institution for the administration of an
1-24     electronic benefits transfer system.
 2-1           (e)  The workgroup may establish procedures to administer its
 2-2     duties under this section.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 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.