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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by |
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contempt. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 157.162, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The court may not find a respondent in contempt of court |
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for failure to pay child support if the respondent appears at the |
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hearing with: |
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(1) a copy of the payment record or other evidence |
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satisfactory to the court showing that the respondent is current in |
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the payment of child support as ordered by the court; and |
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(2) evidence satisfactory to the court showing that |
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the respondent's failure to make timely payments was due to an error |
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made by a third party or other circumstances outside the |
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respondent's control. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a hearing to enforce an order in a suit affecting the |
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parent-child relationship that commences on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. A hearing that commences 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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hearing commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |