| TO: | Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2849 by Uresti (Relating to requiring dental support for a child.), As Introduced |
The bill would add various sections of the Family Code requiring the court, before a hearing to establish a support order, to require the parties to provide written information regarding the availability and existence of dental insurance of the child, and requiring the court’s final order to contain dental insurance coverage. The bill also adds Section 154.1825 requiring the court, in priority order, to order (1) the obligor to provide dental insurance if available through an employer at a reasonable cost (not more than three percent of net income); (2) the obligee to provide dental insurance if available through an employer at reasonable cost; (3) the obligor to provide dental insurance if dental insurance available from any other source at reasonable cost; (4) if neither (1)-(3), for the obligor to pay the obligee, in addition to the amount ordered under the child support guidelines, a reasonable amount each month as dental support. The Act takes effect on September 1, 2005.
The Attorney General's Child Support Division (CSD) is required to track the payment of dental support separately from child support. The CSD automated system, TXCSES, will have to be modified to accommodate data about the dental obligation. It is anticipated that any additional work resulting from the passage of this bill could be reasonably absorbed with current resources at the Office of the Attorney General.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 454 Department of Insurance
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, LB, MS
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