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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the state disbursement unit to disburse |
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payments to obligees electronically. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 234.010, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 234.010. DIRECT DEPOSIT OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. |
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(a) The state disbursement unit authorized under this chapter |
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shall [may] transmit a child support payment to an obligee by: |
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(1) electronic funds transfer if the obligee maintains |
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an account with a financial institution; or |
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(2) electronic benefits transfer, such as a debit |
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card, to an account established by the Title IV-D agency or the |
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state disbursement unit. |
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(b) The work group convened under this subchapter may |
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develop a plan to assist an obligee who does not have an account |
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with a financial institution to obtain an account. |
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(c) [The work group may determine whether it is feasible and
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cost-effective for the state to administer an electronic benefits
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transfer system for child support obligees and may recommend
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implementation of such a system to the Title IV-D agency.] |
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[(d)
After receiving any recommendations by the work group
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under Subsection (c), the Title IV-D agency or the vendor selected
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by the Title IV-D agency to operate the state disbursement unit may
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provide for electronic benefits transfer, if the request for
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proposals issued by the Title IV-D agency and any contract
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resulting from the selection of a vendor to provide the services
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specified in the request for proposals provides for electronic
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benefits transfer.] |
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[(e)] The work group may recommend and the Title IV-D agency |
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may establish procedures to implement this section. |
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(d) For payments under Subsection (a)(2) [(f)
The Title
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IV-D agency, after receiving the recommendation of the work group,
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may require an obligee to receive payments by direct deposit to the
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obligee's bank account or] by electronic benefits transfer, [to] an |
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account established by the Title IV-D agency or the state |
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disbursement unit must be [if the account is] established at no cost |
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to the obligee. |
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SECTION 2. Section 234.011, Family Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |