BILL ANALYSIS
By: Heflin
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law provides that an attorney ad litem must be appointed for indigent parents in suits which involve the termination of the parent-child relationship. The costs associated with attorney ad litem fees are generally paid out of the county's general fund.
C.S.H.B.3022 would require the comptroller on request by a county to reimburse the county for ad litem fees paid from the county's general fund.
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
Amends Section 107.015 of the Family Code by adding Subsection (c-1) to provide that on request by a county, the comptroller shall reimburse the county for ad litem fees paid out of the county's general fund under Subsection (c) of the Family Code.
If the comptroller does not reimburse the county before the 61st day of receiving the request for reimbursement, the county may stop further payment of fees until reimbursement is received.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B.3022 modifies the original H.B.3022 by changing the payment period from the 60th day to the 61st day in which a county may suspend payment of fees until reimbursement is received from the comptroller. Additionally, C.S.H.B.3022 modifies Subsection (c-1) instead of Subsection (c).