79R9715 KSD-D


By:  Dutton                                                       H.B. No. 2668



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition against a private entity performing the 
functions and duties of a local child support registry.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 101.018, Family Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	Sec. 101.018.  LOCAL REGISTRY. "Local registry" means a 
county [an] agency or public entity operated under the authority of 
a district clerk, county government, juvenile board, juvenile 
probation office, domestic relations office, or other county agency 
or public entity that serves a county or a court that has 
jurisdiction under this title and that:
		(1)  receives child support payments;                                         
		(2)  maintains records of child support payments;                             
		(3)  distributes child support payments as required by 
law;  and            
		(4)  maintains custody of official child support 
payment records.           
	SECTION 2.  Section 154.241, Family Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  Notwithstanding any other law, a private entity may 
perform the duties and functions of a local registry under this 
section only under a contract with a county commissioners court or 
domestic relations office executed under Section 204.002.
	SECTION 3.  Section 204.001, Family Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	Sec. 204.001.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to a 
commissioners court or domestic relations office of a county that 
did not have the authority to contract with a private entity to 
receive, disburse, and record payments or restitution of child 
support on January 1, 1997.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately 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 immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.