78R3078 JMM-D

By:  West                                                         H.B. No. 556



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain requirements in connection with the expenditure 
of child support payments.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 154.0041 to read as follows:
	Sec. 154.0041.  ACCOUNTING OF CHILD SUPPORT EXPENDITURES. 
(a)  On the request of a party to a child support order and for good 
cause shown, the court may order an accounting of the expenditure of 
child support payments if the total child support obligation 
exceeds $750 per month.  The accounting required by the court order 
may not include a duty to account for money deposited in an account 
before the 12 months preceding the date of the order.
	(b)  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 a child support account with a 
financial institution solely for the receipt and use of child 
support payments.
	SECTION 2.   (a)  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.