By Goodman H.B. No. 591 77R735 QS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 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.