78R7190 JMM-D

By:  Farrar                                                       H.B. No. 2856



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain fees collected by a domestic relations office.            
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 203.005, Family Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) 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, including non-Title IV-D child support services provided 
under a formal agreement between a domestic relations office and 
the Title IV-D agency;
		(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.      
	(e)  A fee authorized by this section for providing child 
support services is part of the child support obligation and may be 
enforced against both an obligor and obligee by any method 
available for the enforcement of child support, including contempt.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.