Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee On Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB355 by West (Relating to the powers and duties of the Title IV-D agency regarding the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child support and in connection with an application for a marriage license or protective order; providing an administrative fine.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Family Code and require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to develop a premarital education handbook and post it on the agency website or provide a paper copy if an individual does not have Internet access. In addition, a marriage license and protective order would be required to contain information on whether an applicant is receiving child support services through the state.
The bill would also authorize the OAG to impose a fine in an amount not to exceed $25 for each violation by an employer who fails to use electronic funds transfer or electronic data interchange related to remitting child support obligations owed by its employees. The Office of the Attorney General may also receive attorney's fees and costs related to enforcing the provisions of the bill. In addition, the bill would amend various notification and filing criteria for both the OAG and the courts.
The bill could increase revenue at the OAG due to the collection of fines from employers who violate provisions of the bill; however, it is anticipated that any additional revenue related to implementation of the bill would not be significant. The Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Court Administration anticipate that any additional cost associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
Chambers County, Denton County, Gaudalupe County, and Kaufman County reported that any impact associated with provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
Office of Court Administration reported no significant fiscal impact to units local government associated with the bill.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General