HBA- MPA H.B. 624 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 624
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
6/3/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

All Texas counties are required to establish local registries to receive
and disburse child support payments and maintain official records of those
payments.  Some counties have also established domestic relations offices
that collect and disburse funds and are authorized to enforce orders
against persons owing child support payments. Prior to the 76th
Legislature, only counties with a population of 1,800,000 or more could
contract with private entities for the collection of child support
payments.  H.B. 624 removes the population restriction and allows any Texas
county to contract with private entities to assist in the collection of
child support. 

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 Chapter 153, Human Resources Code, by removing the
population restriction, 
transferring it to Title 5, Family Code, and redesignating it as Chapter
204.  Deletes reference to the legal basis for state case registry as set
forth in Chapter 231 (Title IV-D Services), Family Code, and 42 U.S.C.
Section 654a (Automated Data Processing), both relating to agencies that
receive, distribute, and maintain records on child support payments.  Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  Redesignates existing Sections
153.001-153.005, Human Resources Code,  to Sections 204.001-204.005, Family
Code, respectively. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Provides that the application of this Act does not affect a contract
entered into under Chapter 153 (Child Support Collection by Private
Entity), Human Resources Code, or an act taken under the contract. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.