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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to enforcement of child support obligations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 157.105, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The court may conduct a hearing under Subsection (a) |
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through the use of teleconferencing, videoconferencing, or other |
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remote electronic means if the court determines that conducting the |
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hearing in that manner will facilitate the hearing. |
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SECTION 2. Section 157.163, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) The court may conduct a hearing on the issue of |
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indigency through the use of teleconferencing, videoconferencing, |
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or other remote electronic means if the court determines that |
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conducting the hearing in that manner will facilitate the hearing. |
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SECTION 3. Section 157.317(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A child support lien attaches to all real and personal |
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property not exempt under the Texas Constitution or other law, |
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including: |
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(1) an account in a financial institution; |
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(2) a retirement plan, including an individual |
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retirement account; |
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(3) the proceeds of an insurance policy, including the |
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proceeds from a life insurance policy or annuity contract and the |
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proceeds from the sale or assignment of life insurance or annuity |
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benefits, a claim for compensation, or a settlement or award for the |
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claim for compensation, due to or owned by the obligor; [and] |
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(4) property seized and subject to forfeiture under |
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Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure; and |
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(5) the proceeds derived from the sale of oil or gas |
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production from an oil or gas well located in this state. |
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SECTION 4. Section 91.402(b), Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Payments may be withheld without interest beyond the |
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time limits set out in Subsection (a) if: |
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(1) [of this section when] there is: |
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(A) [(1)] a dispute concerning title that would |
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affect distribution of payments; |
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(B) [(2)] a reasonable doubt that the payee: |
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(i) [(A)] has sold or authorized the sale |
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of its share of the oil or gas to the purchaser of such production; |
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or |
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(ii) [(B)] has clear title to the interest in |
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the proceeds of production; or |
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(C) [(3)] a requirement in a title opinion that |
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places in issue the title, identity, or whereabouts of the payee and |
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that has not been satisfied by the payee after a reasonable request |
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for curative information has been made by the payor; or |
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(2) the payments are subject to a child support lien |
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under Chapter 157, Family Code. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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157.317, Family Code, applies only to a child support lien notice |
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filed or delivered on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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child support lien notice filed or delivered before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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lien notice was filed or delivered, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |