BILL ANALYSIS
By: Strama
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In the 79th Legislative Session, under House Bill 260, Section 157.005(b) of the Family Code was amended to impose a time limit on the collection of legally owed child support. Current law stipulates that if a suit is not filed before the 10th anniversary after the child becomes an adult, or the 10th anniversary of the end-date of the child support order, then the court loses its power to enforce payment of past due child support and medical support.
H.B.670 removes the time limit on the collection of owed child support, returning Section 157.005(b) of the Family Code to the language before the 79th Legislative Session.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 157.005(b) of the Family Code, by allowing the court to retain jurisdiction to confirm the total amount of child support arrearages and render judgment for past-due child support until the date all current child support and medical support and child support arrearages, including interest and any applicable fees and costs, have been paid.
SECTION 2. States that the change in the law made by this Act applies to child support regardless of the date.
SECTION 3. Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.