C.S.H.B. 556 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 556
By: West, George "Buddy"
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the court does not require that a custodial parent
establish a separate child support account to receive payments from the
non-custodial parent.  There is some concern that the money is spent on
things other than support of the child. C.S.H.B.556 authorizes the court,
on request, to order a sworn accounting of the expenditure of child
support payments if the total child support obligation exceeds $750 per
month. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Family Code, by adding
Section 154.0041, which authorizes a court, on request of a party to a
child support order and for good cause shown, to order an accounting of
the expenditure of child support payments if the total child support
obligation exceeds $750 per month. The party must give a sworn account of
the expenditures of child support payments. If, after a hearing, the court
finds that child support payments are not being used for the benefit of
the child, the court may order the obligee to open up a child support
account with a financial institution solely for the receipt and use of
child support payments. 

SECTION 2.This Act takes effect  September 1, 2003. (b) If the Title IV-D
agency implements an electronic benefits transfer system under Section
234.011, Family Code, a Title IV-D case in which an electronic benefits
transfer is used is exempt from Section 154.0041, Family Code, as added by
this Act. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B.556 modifies the original H.B.556 by authorizing the court, on
request, to order a sworn accounting of the expenditure of child support
payments if the total child support obligation exceeds $750 per month.