By Thompson H.B. No. 899 77R2786 JMM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment of a time limit for the collection of 1-3 unpaid child support. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 154.009, Family Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: 1-7 (d) The court may only include in an order to pay 1-8 retroactive child support under this section the amount of support 1-9 that would have been due for the four years preceding the date the 1-10 proceeding in which child support was ordered was commenced. 1-11 SECTION 2. Section 157.005, Family Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-13 (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b) and any other provision 1-14 of this title, the court only has jurisdiction to render an order 1-15 for the enforcement of a child support payment that became due and 1-16 owing during the four years preceding the date the motion for 1-17 enforcement of child support was filed. 1-18 SECTION 3. Section 157.263, Family Code, is amended by 1-19 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-20 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, 1-21 the court may only confirm as arrearages and include in a money 1-22 judgment child support that became due and owing during the four 1-23 years preceding the date the motion for enforcement of child 1-24 support was filed. 2-1 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-2 (b) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an 2-3 original suit affecting the parent-child relationship in which 2-4 child support is sought or a motion to enforce child support that 2-5 is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit or 2-6 motion filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by 2-7 the law in effect on the date the suit or motion was filed, and the 2-8 former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-9 (c) The change in law made by this Act does not apply to a 2-10 court order or portion of a decree providing for the payment of 2-11 child support or confirming child support arrearages and rendering 2-12 a judgment for child support due and owing that is rendered before 2-13 the effective date of this Act. 2-14 (d) The enactment of this Act does not constitute a material 2-15 and substantial change of circumstances sufficient to warrant 2-16 modification of a court order or portion of a decree that provides 2-17 for the payment of child support that is rendered before the 2-18 effective date of this Act.