78R6431 JMM-F

By:  Dutton                                                       H.B. No. 2001



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to notice to an employer of a court order requiring an 
employee to provide medical support for the employee's child; 
providing penalties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 154.186, Family Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	Sec. 154.186.  NOTICE TO EMPLOYER CONCERNING MEDICAL 
SUPPORT.  (a) The obligee, obligor, or a child support agency may 
send to the employer a copy of the order requiring an employee to 
provide health insurance coverage for a child or may include notice 
of the medical support order in an order or writ of withholding sent 
to the employer in accordance with Chapter 158.
	(b)  In an appropriate Title IV-D case, the Title IV-D agency 
shall send to the employer the national medical support notice 
required under Part D, Title IV of the federal Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.), as amended.
	(c)  The Title IV-D agency by rule shall establish procedures 
consistent with federal law for use of the national medical support 
notice.  The notice may be used in any suit in which an obligor is 
required by an order to provide health insurance for a child.
	SECTION 2.  Section 154.187, Family Code, is amended by 
amending Subsections (f) and (g) and adding Subsection (h) to read 
as follows:
	(f)  In this section, "sender" means the person sending the 
order or notice under Section 154.186.
	(g)  An employer who fails to enroll a child, fails to 
withhold or remit premiums or cash medical support, or 
discriminates in hiring or employment on the basis of a medical 
support order or notice under this subchapter shall be subject to 
the penalties and fines in Subchapter C, Chapter 158.
	(h)  An employer who receives a national medical support 
notice under Section 154.186 shall comply with the requirements of 
the order.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2003, if it 
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each 
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that 
date, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.