H.B. No. 1833




AN ACT

relating to certain fees that may be assessed and collected by a 
domestic relations office.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 203.005(a), Family Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	(a)  The administering entity may authorize a domestic 
relations office to assess and collect:
		(1)  an initial operations fee not to exceed $15 to be 
paid to the domestic relations office on the filing of a suit;
		(2)  in a county that has a child support enforcement 
cooperative agreement with the Title IV-D agency, an initial child 
support service fee not to exceed $36 to be paid to the domestic 
relations office on the filing of a suit;
		(3)  a reasonable application fee to be paid by an 
applicant requesting services from the office;
		(4)  a reasonable attorney's fee and court costs 
incurred or ordered by the court;
		(5)  a monthly service fee not to exceed $3 to be paid 
annually in advance by a managing conservator and possessory 
conservator for whom the domestic relations office provides 
services;
		(6)  community supervision fees as provided by Chapter 
157 if community supervision officers are employed by the domestic 
relations office;  [and]
		(7)  a reasonable fee for preparation of a 
court-ordered social study;  and
		(8)  in a county that provides visitation services  
under Sections 153.014 and 203.004 a reasonable fee to be paid to 
the domestic relations office at the time the visitation services 
are provided.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 1833 was passed by the House on April 
25, 2003, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in 
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1833 on May 30, 2003, by a non-record 
vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	
I certify that H.B. No. 1833 was passed by the Senate, with 
amendments, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 
0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor