By Bonnen H.B. No. 2610
77R7889 JMG-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the offense of criminal nonsupport of a child.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 25.05(a) and (d), Penal Code, are
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) An individual commits an offense if the individual [he]
1-7 intentionally or knowingly fails to provide support for the
1-8 individual's [his] child younger than 18 years of age, or for the
1-9 individual's [his] child who is the subject of a court order
1-10 requiring the individual to support the child.
1-11 (d) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
1-12 section that the actor could not provide support for the actor's
1-13 [his] child.
1-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-15 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-16 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-17 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-18 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.