By: Harris S.B. No. 303

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to health care coverage for a child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Section 154.062, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(d) The court shall deduct the following items from resources to determine the net resources available for child support:

(1) social security taxes;

(2) federal income tax based on the tax rate for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction;

(3) state income tax;

(4) union dues; and

(5) expenses for the cost of health insurance or cash medical support [coverage] for the obligor's child ordered by the court under Section 154.182.

(e) In calculating the amount of the deduction for health care coverage for a child under Subsection (d)(5), if the obligor has other minor dependents covered under the same health insurance plan, the court shall divide the total cost to the obligor for the insurance by the total number of minor dependents, including the child, covered under the plan.

SECTION 2. Subsections (c), (d), and (e), Section 154.181, Family Code, are amended to read as follows:

(c) In rendering temporary orders, the court shall, except for good cause shown, order that any health insurance coverage in effect for the child continue in effect pending the rendition of a final order, except that the court may not require the continuation of any health insurance that is not available to the parent at reasonable cost. If there is no health insurance coverage in effect for the child or if the insurance in effect is not available at a reasonable cost [and the child is not receiving medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or coverage under the state child health plan under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code], the court shall, except for good cause shown, order health care coverage for the child as provided under Section 154.182.

(d) On [Except for good cause shown, on] rendering a final order the court shall:

(1) make specific findings with respect to the manner in which health care coverage is to be provided for the child, in accordance with the priorities identified under Section 154.182; and

(2) except for good cause shown or on agreement of the parties, require the parent ordered to provide health care coverage for the child as provided under Section 154.182 to produce evidence to the court's satisfaction that the parent has applied for or secured health insurance or has otherwise taken necessary action to provide for health care coverage for the child, as ordered by the court.

(e) In this section, "reasonable cost" means the cost of [a] health insurance coverage for a child [premium] that does not exceed nine [10] percent of the responsible parent's annual resources, as described by Section 154.062(b) [net income in a month].

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 154.182, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 154.182. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR CHILD [INSURANCE].

SECTION 4. Section 154.182, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (b-3) to read as follows:

(a) The court shall consider the cost and quality of health insurance coverage available to the parties and shall give priority to health insurance coverage available through the employment of one of the parties if the coverage is available at a reasonable cost.

(b) In determining the manner in which health care coverage [insurance] for the child is to be ordered, the court shall render its order in accordance with the following priorities, unless a party shows good cause why a particular order would not be in the best interest of the child:

(1) if health insurance is available for the child through a parent's [the obligor's] employment or membership in a union, trade association, or other organization at reasonable cost to the parent [obligor], the court shall order that parent [the obligor] to include the child in the parent's [obligor's] health insurance;

(2) if health insurance is not available for the child under Subdivision (1) [through the obligor's employment] but is available to a parent from another source and [for the child] at a reasonable cost [through the obligee's employment or membership in a union, trade association, or other organization], the court may order that parent [the obligee] to provide health insurance for the child[, and, in such event, shall order the obligor to pay additional child support to be withheld from earnings under Chapter 158 to the obligee for the actual cost of the health insurance for the child]; or

(3) [if health insurance is not available for the child under Subdivision (1) or (2), the court shall order the obligor to provide health insurance for the child if the court finds that health insurance is available to the obligor for the child from another source and at reasonable cost;

[(4) if neither parent has access to private health insurance at a reasonable cost, the court shall order that the custodial parent or, to the extent permitted by law, the noncustodial parent immediately apply on behalf of the child for participation in a medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or the state child health plan under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, and that the obligor pay additional child support, to be withheld from income under Chapter 158, to the obligee for the actual cost of participation of the child in the state child health plan; or

[(5)] if health insurance coverage is not available for the child under Subdivision (1) or[,] (2)[, (3), or (4)], the court shall order the obligor to pay the obligee, in addition to any amount ordered under the guidelines for child support, an [a reasonable] amount, not to exceed nine percent of the obligor's monthly resources, [each month] as cash medical support for the child [to be withheld from earnings under Chapter 158].

(b-1) If the parent ordered to provide health insurance under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) is the obligee, the court shall order the obligor to pay the obligee, as additional child support, an amount equal to the actual cost of health insurance for the child. In calculating the actual cost of health insurance for the child, if the obligee has other minor dependents covered under the same health insurance plan, the court shall divide the total cost to the obligee for the insurance by the total number of minor dependents, including the child covered under the plan.

(b-2) If the court finds that neither parent has access to private health insurance at a reasonable cost, the court shall order the parent awarded the exclusive right to designate the child's primary residence or, to the extent permitted by law, the other parent to apply immediately on behalf of the child for participation in a government medical assistance program or health plan. If the child participates in a government medical assistance program or health plan, the court shall order cash medical support under Subsection (b)(3).

(b-3) An order requiring the payment of cash medical support under Subsection (b)(3) must allow the obligor to discontinue payment of the cash medical support if:

(1) health insurance for the child becomes available to the obligor at a reasonable cost; and

(2) the obligor:

(A) enrolls the child in the insurance plan; and

(B) provides the obligee and, in a Title IV-D case, the Title IV-D agency, the information required under Section 154.185.

SECTION 5. Section 154.183, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 154.183. MEDICAL SUPPORT [HEALTH INSURANCE] ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DUTY OF OBLIGOR. (a) An amount that an obligor is ordered [required] to pay as medical support [for health insurance] for the child under this chapter, including the costs of health insurance coverage or cash medical support under Section 154.182:

(1) is in addition to the amount that the obligor is required to pay for child support under the guidelines for child support;

(2) is a child support obligation; and

(3) may be enforced by any means available for the enforcement of [as a] child support, including withholding from earnings under Chapter 158 [obligation].

(b) If the court finds and states in the child support order that the obligee will maintain health insurance coverage for the child at the obligee's expense, the court shall [may] increase the amount of child support to be paid by the obligor in an amount not exceeding the actual cost [total expense] to the obligee for maintaining health insurance coverage, as provided under Section 154.182(b-1).

(c) As additional child support, the court shall allocate between the parties, according to their circumstances, the reasonable and necessary health care expenses of a child that are not reimbursed by health insurance or are not otherwise covered by the amount of cash medical support ordered under Section 154.182(b)(3).

SECTION 6. Subsection (a), Section 156.401, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) or (b), the court may modify an order that provides for the support of a child, including an order for health care coverage under Section 154.182, if:

(1) the circumstances of the child or a person affected by the order have materially and substantially changed since the earlier of:

(A) the date of the order's rendition; or

(B) the date of the signing of a mediated or collaborative law settlement agreement on which the order is based; or

(2) it has been three years since the order was rendered or last modified and the monthly amount of the child support award under the order differs by either 20 percent or $100 from the amount that would be awarded in accordance with the child support guidelines.

SECTION 7. The change in law made by this Act applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending in a trial court on or filed on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.