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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to premarital education courses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 2, Family Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 2.0131 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2.0131. CONTRACTS FOR PREMARITAL EDUCATION COURSES. |
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(a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall enter into a |
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contract with a nonprofit organization based in this state to |
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administer and coordinate the courses offered under Section 2.013. |
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The administration and coordination functions performed under the |
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contract include: |
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(1) ensuring service delivery in all areas of the |
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state; |
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(2) coordinating local resources working in the area |
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of healthy marriage development, including faith-based and |
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community organizations; |
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(3) providing: |
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(A) leadership and administrative functions; |
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(B) financial management services; |
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(C) technical support; and |
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(D) marketing support; and |
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(4) researching and evaluating the quality and |
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effectiveness of the premarital education courses offered. |
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(b) The contract must require the nonprofit organization to |
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operate an Internet website that: |
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(1) allows couples planning to marry to find a |
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premarital education course by geographic location; |
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(2) allows a provider of premarital education courses |
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to register with the nonprofit organization to indicate the |
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skills-based and research-based curriculum in which the registrant |
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is trained; and |
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(3) raises funds for the organization by selling |
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advertising space to entities that sell products or services that |
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promote healthy marriages. |
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(c) Money in the trust fund under Section 2.014 may be |
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disbursed under a contract entered into under this section for the |
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nonprofit organization's administration and coordination of |
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premarital education courses offered in this state. |
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(d) The nonprofit organization under this section may also |
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solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations to fulfill its |
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duties under the contract. |
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(e) Notwithstanding Section 2.013(c), if the nonprofit |
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organization determines that insufficient courses are available in |
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an area of the state, the nonprofit organization may designate |
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online courses that meet the requirements of Section 2.013 for |
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residents of that area. |
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(f) Only a resident of an area of the state described by |
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Subsection (e) may obtain a certificate by taking an online course |
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approved by the nonprofit organization. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2.014(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Money in the trust fund is derived from deposits |
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[depositing $3 of each marriage license fee as] authorized under |
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Section 118.022 [118.018(c)], Local Government Code, and may be |
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used only for: |
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(1) the development and distribution of a premarital |
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education handbook; and |
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(2) [grants to institutions of higher education having
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academic departments that are capable of research on marriage and
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divorce that will assist in determining programs, courses, and
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policies to help strengthen families and assist children whose
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parents are divorcing;
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[(3)] support for a nonprofit organization pursuant to |
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a contract under Section 2.0131 [counties] to [create or] |
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administer and coordinate the [free or low-cost] premarital |
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education courses described by Section 2.013[;
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[(4)
programs intended to reduce the amount of
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delinquent child support; and
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[(5)
other programs the attorney general determines
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will assist families in this state]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 118.022, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 118.022. DISPOSITION OF MARRIAGE LICENSE AND |
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DECLARATION FEES. [(a)] If the county clerk collects a fee for |
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issuing a marriage license, the county clerk shall deposit, as |
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provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 133, $30 [:
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[(1) $20] of each fee collected for issuing a marriage |
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license or $12.50 of each fee for recording a declaration of |
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informal marriage to be sent to the comptroller and deposited [as
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provided by Subsection (b); and
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[(2)
$10 of each fee collected for issuing a marriage
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license to be sent to the comptroller and deposited as provided by
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Subsection (c).
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[(b)
The comptroller shall deposit the money received under
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Subsection (a)(1) to the credit of the child abuse and neglect
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prevention trust fund account established under Section 40.105,
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Human Resources Code.
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[(c)
The comptroller shall deposit the money received under
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Subsection (a)(2)] to the credit of the family trust fund account |
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established under Section 2.014, Family Code. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Section 2.013(e), Family Code, is repealed. |
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(b) Section 40.105, Human Resources Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to fees for a marriage license or declaration of informal marriage |
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collected on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. The Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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enter into a contract under Section 2.0131, Family Code, as added by |
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this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act and shall transition any existing data on premarital education |
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courses offered in this state to the nonprofit organization that is |
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a party to the contract. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |