HBA-NLM H.B. 444 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 444 By: Reyna, Arthur Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 3/3/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no limitation to the amount of retroactive child support that a person may be ordered to pay. There is concern that the amount owed may be an encumbered amount that a person may not be able to pay, particularly in circumstances in which the parent was not previously informed of child support obligations. H.B.444 provides that the total amount of retroactive child support that a parent may be ordered to pay may not exceed the amount which would accumulate over four years prior to the date of the court order. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 154.009 (a), Family Code, to specify that the amount of retroactive child support a court may order a parent to pay under this subsection may not exceed the total amount that would have been accumulated over the four years prior to the date of the court's order. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.