1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the liability of a parent who fails to provide
 1-3     court-ordered health insurance for a child.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 154.188, Family Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 154.188.  FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUIRED HEALTH INSURANCE.
 1-8     A parent ordered to provide health insurance who fails to do so is
 1-9     liable for:
1-10                 (1)  necessary medical expenses of the child, without
1-11     regard to whether the expenses would have been paid if health
1-12     insurance had been provided; and
1-13                 (2)  the cost of health insurance premiums or
1-14     contributions, if any, paid on behalf of the child.
1-15           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-16     applies only to an action to enforce a medical support order
1-17     commenced on or after that date.  An action to enforce a medical
1-18     support order commenced before the effective date of this Act is
1-19     governed by the law in effect on the date the action was commenced,
1-20     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 591 was passed by the House on March
         29, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 591 was passed by the Senate on May
         10, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor