H.B. 887 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 887
By: Dutton
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas law currently  provides that in a suit affecting the parent-child
relationship, a court  may order reasonable attorneys' fees as costs and
order those fees paid directly to an attorney. Additionally, an award of
attorneys' fees may be enforced in the attorney's name by any means
available for the enforcement of a judgment for debt.   

House Bill 887 authorizes a court to render a judgment for reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses as well as order the judgment and post
judgment interest to be paid directly to an attorney. 

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 Section 106.002(a), Family Code, to provide  that in a
suit under this title, the court may render a judgement for reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses and order the court judgment and post
judgment interest to be paid directly to an attorney. Amends (b) to
provide that a judgment for attorney's fees and expenses may be enforced
in the attorney's name by any means available for the enforcement of a
judgement for debt. 

Section 2.This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and applies to a suit
affecting the parentchild relationship pending in a trial court on that
date or filed on or after that date. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.