By: Dutton H.B. No. 782

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to genetic testing in the determination of parentage and to a proceeding to vacate an order of paternity or child support.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 154.015 to read as follows:

Sec. 154.015. PATERNITY TEST REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a court may not render an order requiring the payment of child support unless the court finds that:

(1) the parties have completed a genetic test to determine parentage that complies with the requirements of Subchapter F, Chapter 160, and, based on the genetic test, the man named as the father in the suit affecting the parent-child relationship is rebuttably identified as the father of the child in accordance with Section 160.505(a); or

(2) the party being ordered to pay child support is an adoptive parent of the child.

(b) If the parties to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship in which child support is requested have not completed a genetic test that complies with the requirements of Subchapter F, Chapter 160, the court shall order the child, the child's mother, and the alleged father to submit to genetic testing not later than the 30th day after the date the order requiring genetic testing is rendered. If an alleged father fails to submit to a genetic test ordered under this section, the court may render an order adjudicating the alleged father to be the father of the child and requiring the alleged father to pay child support.

(c) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, an alleged father of the child may file an affidavit with the court admitting paternity of the child. After receiving an affidavit under this subsection, the court may, without requiring a genetic test, render an order adjudicating the alleged father to be the father of the child and requiring the alleged father to pay child support. An alleged father who files an affidavit under this subsection may not challenge the adjudication of paternity.

(d) The parties, other than a governmental entity, shall bear the cost of the genetic test ordered under this section equally.

SECTION 2. Chapter 160, Family Code, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER J. PROCEEDINGS TO VACATE COURT ORDER

Sec. 160.801. SUIT TO VACATE COURT ORDER. (a) A person identified in a court order as the father of a child may file a petition not later than the child's 18th birthday requesting the court to vacate a court order that:

(1) states that the person identified in the order as the father of the child is the father of the child identified in the motion; or

(2) requires the person identified in the order as the father of the child to pay child support for the child.

(b) The petition to vacate a court order must be accompanied by:

(1) an affidavit stating facts that show the court order was obtained by fraud or material mistake of fact; and

(2) a certified copy of the court order to be vacated.

(c) The court may not grant a petition to vacate a court order under this section if the person identified in the court order as the father of the child:

(1) is the child's adoptive father;

(2) consented to assisted reproduction by his wife under Subchapter H;

(3) was an intended father under a gestational agreement confirmed by a court under Subchapter I; or

(4) filed the petition under this section after the 180th day after the date the person received the results of a genetic test described by Section 160.802(b)(3).

Sec. 160.802. GENETIC TESTING. (a) In a proceeding under this subchapter, if the court finds that the affidavit filed with the petition under Section 160.801 establishes a prima facie case that the court order was obtained by fraud or material mistake of fact, the court shall order the child and the person identified in the court order as the father of the child to submit to genetic testing not later than the 30th day after the date the order requiring genetic testing is rendered.

(b) A person establishes a prima facie case that a court order was obtained by fraud or material mistake of fact if the person's affidavit states that the person:

(1) was the presumed father of the child or was induced by representations made by the child's mother to believe that the person was the child's father;

(2) at the time the court order was rendered, did not know that he was not the father of the child; and

(3) took a genetic test after the date the court order sought to be vacated was rendered that establishes that the person is not rebuttably identified as the father of the child in accordance with Section 160.505.

(c) Genetic testing under this section is governed by Subchapter F.

(d) If the affidavit filed with the petition does not establish a prima facie case, the court shall, on a motion by the respondent, dismiss the petition.

Sec. 160.803. FAILURE TO SUBMIT TO GENETIC TEST. (a) If the person who has been awarded the exclusive right to designate the child's primary residence fails to allow the child to be genetically tested under Section 160.802, the court may suspend the legal obligation of the person identified in the court order as the father of the child to pay child support until the child is genetically tested.

(b) If the person identified in the court order as the father of the child fails to submit to a genetic test ordered under Section 160.802, the court shall dismiss the person's petition to vacate with prejudice.

Sec. 160.804. GROUNDS FOR VACATING ORDER. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the court shall vacate an order described by Section 160.801(a) if the court finds that the court order was obtained by fraud or material mistake of fact and the person identified in the court order as the father of the child:

(1) was the presumed father of the child or was induced by representations made by the child's mother to believe that the person was the child's father;

(2) at the time the order was rendered, did not know that he was not the father of the child;

(3) based on genetic testing, is not rebuttably identified as the father of the child in accordance with Section 160.505;

(4) is not the child's adoptive parent;

(5) is not the intended father of the child under a gestational agreement confirmed by a court under Subchapter I; and

(6) did not consent to assisted reproduction by his wife under Subchapter H.

(b) The court may not vacate an order under this section if the court finds that at any time the person identified in the court order as the father of the child knew that he was not the child's biological parent and:

(1) consented to his name being entered as the child's biological father on the child's birth certificate;

(2) was determined to be the child's father in a proceeding to determine parentage; or

(3) filed an acknowledgment of paternity with the bureau of vital statistics.

Sec. 160.805. POSSESSION ORDER; CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGE. (a) If the court vacates a parentage or child support order in a proceeding under this subchapter and the person identified in the court order as the father of the child is also entitled under an order to the possession of or access to the child who is the subject of the vacated order, the court shall determine whether the possession order should be terminated, modified, or continued based on the best interest of the child.

(b) If the court modifies or continues the possession order under Subsection (a), the person identified in the court order as the father of the child shall have the rights and duties provided by Section 153.074 during the period he has possession of the child.

(c) If the court vacates a child support order under this subchapter and an arrearage exists under that child support order, the court may reduce the amount of the arrearage to zero. If the court eliminates an arrearage under this subsection, the court shall issue an order stating that the child support obligation, including any arrearage, is terminated.

(d) The elimination of an arrearage under a child support order that is vacated as provided by this subchapter is for purposes of correcting an act induced by fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact and is not a retroactive modification.

(e) If the court vacates a parentage order in a proceeding under this subchapter, the court may order:

(1) the child or any party to participate in counseling with a licensed mental health professional who:

(A) has a background in family therapy; and

(B) holds a professional license that requires the person to possess at least a master's degree; and

(2) any party to pay the cost of counseling.

(f) If a person possessing the qualifications of Subsection (e)(1) is not available in the county in which the court presides, the court may appoint a person the court believes is qualified to conduct the counseling under Subsection (e).

Sec. 160.806. ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COURT COSTS. If the court vacates a parentage order or a child support order in a proceeding under this subchapter, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the petitioner. If the court does not grant the petition to vacate a parentage order or a child support order under this subchapter, the court shall order the petitioner to pay the costs of the action and each opposing party's reasonable attorney's fees.

SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act the Title IV-D agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of the change in law made by this Act, the agency shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.