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.