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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 624
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
2/8/1999
Introduced



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.  Currently only counties with
a population of 1,800,000 or more may contract with private entities for
the collection of child support payments.  H.B. 624 allows counties with a
population of 500,000 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 transferring it to
Title 5, Family Code, redesignating it to Chapter 204, and extending its
applicability to a county with a population of 500,000 or more, rather than
1,800,000 or more.  Deletes reference to the definition of "local registry"
in Section 101.018 of the Family Code, and the legal basis for state case
registry as set forth in Chapter 231, Title IV-D, Family Code, 42 U.S.C.
Section 654a, both having to do with agencies that receive, distribute, and
maintain records on child support payments.  Makes conforming and
nonsubstantive changes.  Redesignates existing Sections 153.001-153.005 to
Sections 204.001204.005 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, Human Resource Code, or an act
taken under the contract. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.