SRC-BWC S.J.R. 9 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.J.R. 9 77R3421 AEI-DBy: Fraser Jurisprudence 3/29/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, personal wages are only eligible to be garnished for court-ordered child support payments or spousal maintenance. Therefore, if a judge orders civil penalties to be paid by an individual, there is really no enforcement mechanism because wages cannot be garnished to collect the penalties. As proposed, S.JR. 9 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow wages to be garnished for a courtordered judgement. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 28, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, by prohibiting the garnishment of current wages for personal service except for the enforcement of court-ordered child support payments or spousal maintenance, or a judgment entered by a court. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the voters at an election to he held November 5, 2002. Authorizes the ballot to be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing garnishment of wages for the enforcement of a judgment."