By: West  S.B. No. 869
         (In the Senate - Filed February 13, 2023; March 1, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence;
  March 27, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
  Nays 0; March 27, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship,
  including the payment and enforcement of support ordered in a suit
  affecting the parent-child relationship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 122.201, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 122.201.  ASSIGNMENT; WHEN ASSIGNMENT BARRED OR
  LIMITED.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a [A] person
  who is entitled to receive property or an interest in property from
  a decedent under a will, by inheritance, or as a beneficiary under a
  life insurance contract, and does not disclaim the property under
  Chapter 240, Property Code, may assign the property or interest in
  property to any person.
         (b)  An assignment of property or an interest in property
  under Subsection (a) by a child support obligor is barred to the
  extent the assigned property or interest in property could be
  applied to satisfy a support obligation of the obligor that has
  been:
               (1)  administratively determined as evidence by a
  certified child support payment record produced by the Title IV-D
  agency in a Title IV-D case; or
               (2)  confirmed and reduced to judgment as provided by
  Section 157.263, Family Code.
         (c)  In this section:
               (1)  "Title IV-D agency" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 101.033, Family Code.
               (2)  "Title IV-D case" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 101.034, Family Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 102.0091(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The party executing the waiver may [not] sign the waiver
  using a digitized signature.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 105.006(a), (e), and (f), Family Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A final order, other than in a proceeding under Chapter
  161 or 162, must contain:
               (1)  the social security number and driver's license
  number of each party to the suit, including the child, except that
  the child's social security number or driver's license number is not
  required if the child has not been assigned a social security number
  or driver's license number; and
               (2)  each party's current residence address, mailing
  address, e-mail address, home telephone number, name of employer,
  address of employment, and work telephone number, except as
  provided by Subsection (c).
         (e)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an order in a suit
  that orders child support or possession of or access to a child must
  also contain the following prominently displayed statement in
  boldfaced type, capital letters, or underlined:
         "EACH PERSON WHO IS A PARTY TO THIS ORDER IS ORDERED TO NOTIFY
  EACH OTHER PARTY, THE COURT, AND THE STATE CASE REGISTRY OF ANY
  CHANGE IN THE PARTY'S CURRENT RESIDENCE ADDRESS, MAILING ADDRESS,
  E-MAIL ADDRESS, HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER, NAME OF EMPLOYER, ADDRESS OF
  EMPLOYMENT, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, AND WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER.  
  THE PARTY IS ORDERED TO GIVE NOTICE OF AN INTENDED CHANGE IN ANY OF
  THE REQUIRED INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER PARTY, THE COURT, AND THE
  STATE CASE REGISTRY ON OR BEFORE THE 60TH DAY BEFORE THE INTENDED
  CHANGE.  IF THE PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN OF THE
  CHANGE IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PROVIDE 60-DAY NOTICE, THE PARTY IS
  ORDERED TO GIVE NOTICE OF THE CHANGE ON OR BEFORE THE FIFTH DAY
  AFTER THE DATE THAT THE PARTY KNOWS OF THE CHANGE."
         "THE DUTY TO FURNISH THIS INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER PARTY,
  THE COURT, AND THE STATE CASE REGISTRY CONTINUES AS LONG AS ANY
  PERSON, BY VIRTUE OF THIS ORDER, IS UNDER AN OBLIGATION TO PAY CHILD
  SUPPORT OR ENTITLED TO POSSESSION OF OR ACCESS TO A CHILD."
         "FAILURE BY A PARTY TO OBEY THE ORDER OF THIS COURT TO PROVIDE
  EACH OTHER PARTY, THE COURT, AND THE STATE CASE REGISTRY WITH THE
  CHANGE IN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN FURTHER LITIGATION
  TO ENFORCE THE ORDER, INCLUDING CONTEMPT OF COURT.  A FINDING OF
  CONTEMPT MAY BE PUNISHED BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL FOR UP TO SIX
  MONTHS, A FINE OF UP TO $500 FOR EACH VIOLATION, AND A MONEY
  JUDGMENT FOR PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COURT COSTS."
         (f)  Except for an action in which contempt is sought, in any
  subsequent child support enforcement action, the court may, on a
  showing that diligent effort has been made to determine the
  location of a party, consider due process requirements for notice
  and service of process to be met with respect to that party on
  delivery of written notice to the most recent residence address,
  e-mail address, [residential] or [employer] address of employment
  filed by that party with the court and the state case registry.
         SECTION 4.  Section 105.007(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A party shall comply with the order by giving written
  notice to each other party of an intended change in the party's
  current residence address, mailing address, e-mail address, home
  telephone number, name of employer, address of employment, and work
  telephone number.
         SECTION 5.  Section 154.132, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 154.132.  APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES TO CHILDREN OF
  CERTAIN DISABLED OBLIGORS. (a) In applying the child support
  guidelines for an obligor who has a disability and who is required
  to pay support for a child who receives periodic benefits as a
  result of the obligor's disability, the court shall apply the
  guidelines by determining the amount of child support that would be
  ordered under the child support guidelines and subtracting from
  that total the amount of benefits or the value of the benefits paid
  to or for the child as a result of the obligor's disability.
         (b)  If a child for whom the obligor owes child support
  receives a lump-sum payment as a result of the obligor's disability
  and that payment is made to the obligee as the representative payee
  of the child, the credit for the lump-sum payment must be applied as
  provided by Section 157.009.
         SECTION 6.  Section 157.005(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The court retains jurisdiction to confirm the total
  amount of child support, medical support, and dental support
  arrearages and render cumulative money judgments for past-due child
  support, medical support, and dental support, as provided by
  Section 157.263, if a motion [for enforcement] requesting a money
  judgment is filed not later than the 10th anniversary after the
  date:
               (1)  the child becomes an adult; or
               (2)  on which the child support obligation terminates
  under the child support order or by operation of law.
         SECTION 7.  Section 157.009, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 157.009.  CREDIT FOR PAYMENT OF DISABILITY BENEFITS.
  In addition to any other credit or offset available to an obligor
  under this title, if a child for whom the obligor owes child support
  receives a lump-sum payment as a result of the obligor's disability
  and that payment is made to the obligee as the representative payee
  of the child, the obligor is entitled to a credit. The credit under
  this section is equal to the amount of the lump-sum payment and
  shall be applied only to any child support arrearage and interest
  owed by the obligor on behalf of that child at the time the payment
  is made.  The credit under this section may not be used to reduce the
  amount of a periodic child support obligation ordered under Chapter
  154 that has not yet accrued.
         SECTION 8.  Sections 157.263(a) and (b-3), Family Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a motion [for enforcement of child support] requests
  a money judgment for child support, medical support, or dental
  support arrearages, the court shall confirm the amount of
  arrearages and render cumulative money judgments as follows:
               (1)  a cumulative money judgment for the amount of
  child support owed under Subsection (b);
               (2)  a cumulative money judgment for the amount of
  medical support owed under Subsection (b-1); and
               (3)  a cumulative money judgment for the amount of
  dental support owed under Subsection (b-2).
         (b-3)  In rendering a money judgment under this title that
  includes child support, medical support, or dental support
  arrearages [section], the court may not reduce or modify the amount
  of [child support, medical support, or dental support] arrearages
  but, in confirming the amount of arrearages, may allow a
  counterclaim or offset as provided by this title.
         SECTION 9.  Section 157.318(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A [Subject to Subsection (d), a] lien is effective until
  all current support and child support arrearages, including
  interest, any costs and reasonable attorney's fees, and any Title
  IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for which the
  obligor is responsible, have been paid or the lien is otherwise
  released as provided by this subchapter.
         SECTION 10.  Section 160.604(c), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  If the court lacks [Lack of] jurisdiction over one
  individual, [does not preclude] the court:
               (1)  is not precluded from making an adjudication of
  parentage binding on another individual over whom the court has
  personal jurisdiction; and
               (2)  may not delay the adjudication described by
  Subdivision (1) solely due to the lack of jurisdiction.
         SECTION 11.  Section 157.318(d), Family Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 12.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
  102.0091(b), Family Code, applies to a waiver of citation executed
  in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship on or after the
  effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the suit was filed
  before, on, or after that date.
         SECTION 13.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
  105.006 and 105.007(a), Family Code, apply only to a suit affecting
  the parent-child relationship that is filed on or after the
  effective date of this Act.  A suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 14.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
  154.132 and 157.009, Family Code, apply only to a lump-sum payment
  received by a child support obligee as a representative payee of a
  child on or after the effective date of this Act. A lump-sum
  payment received before that date is governed by the law in effect
  on the date the payment was received, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 15.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
  157.005(b) and 157.263, Family Code, apply only to a motion
  requesting a money judgment for child support, medical support, or
  dental support arrearages that is filed on or after the effective
  date of this Act.  A motion requesting a money judgment for child
  support, medical support, or dental support arrearages filed before
  that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the motion was
  filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 16.  (a)  Subject to Subsection (b) of this section,
  the change in law made by this Act to Section 157.318(a), Family
  Code, applies to a child support lien on real property regardless of
  whether the lien notice was filed before, on, or after the effective
  date of this Act.
         (b)  A lien for which the 10th anniversary of the date on
  which the last lien notice was filed with the county clerk occurred
  before the effective date of this Act may be renewed on or after the
  effective date of this Act in the same manner and with the same
  effect on priority over other liens as provided by Section
  157.318(d), Family Code, as that section existed immediately before
  the effective date of this Act. Once the lien is renewed in
  accordance with this subsection, the lien continues in effect in
  accordance with Section 157.318, Family Code, as amended by this
  Act.
         SECTION 17.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
  160.604(c), Family Code, applies to a suit affecting the
  parent-child relationship that is pending in a trial court on the
  effective date of this Act or that is filed on or after that date.
         SECTION 18.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
  * * * * *