By: Lucio III (Senate Sponsor - Rodriguez) H.B. No. 847

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 22, 2013; April 22, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; May 16, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 16, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by contempt and the awarding of costs and fees in certain proceedings.

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

SECTION 1. Section 157.162(b), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A finding that the respondent is not in contempt does not preclude the court from awarding the petitioner court costs and reasonable attorney's fees or ordering any other enforcement remedy, including rendering a money judgment, posting a bond or other security, or withholding income.

SECTION 2. Sections 157.162(d) and (e), Family Code, are repealed.

SECTION 3. The repeal by this Act of Sections 157.162(d) and (e), Family Code, applies to a hearing to enforce an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that commences on or after the effective date of this Act. A hearing that commences before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the hearing commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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