78R3041 MCK-D

By:  Eiland                                                       H.B. No. 1461



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to mandatory paternity testing before a court may render 
an order for child support.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 154.015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 154.015.  PATERNITY TEST REQUIRED.  (a)  A court may not 
render an order requiring the payment of child support, unless the 
court finds that:
		(1)  the parties have completed a genetic test to 
determine parentage that complies with the requirements of 
Subchapter F, Chapter 160; and
		(2)  based on the genetic test, the man named as the 
father in the suit affecting the parent-child relationship is 
rebuttably identified as the father of the child in accordance with 
Section 160.505(a).
	(b)  If the parties to a suit affecting the parent-child 
relationship in which child support is requested have not completed 
a genetic test that complies with the requirements of Subchapter F, 
Chapter 160, the court shall order the child, the child's mother, 
and the alleged father to submit to genetic testing not later than 
the 30th day after the date the order requiring genetic testing is 
rendered.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on 
or after that date.  A suit affecting the parent-child relationship 
filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law 
in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.