HBA-SEB H.B. 803 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 803
By: Uher
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
2/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, interest accrues on delinquent child support payments at the
rate of 12 percent per year from the date the support is delinquent, which
may inhibit a noncustodial parent from paying off the arrears in a timely
manner.  H.B. 803 decreases the interest rate on delinquent child support
payments to six percent per year.  

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 157.265, Family Code, as follows:

Sec 157.265.  ACCRUAL OF INTEREST ON CHILD SUPPORT.  Decreases from 12
percent to six percent the annual rate of simple interest accrued on
delinquent child support, child support arrearages that have been confirmed
and reduced to money judgments as provided by this subchapter (Judgment and
Interest), and money judgments for retroactive or lump-sum child support. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: January 1, 2000.  Provides that this Act
applies to a child support payment that is due on or after the effective
date of this Act or a money judgment for child support arrearages,
retroactive child support, or lump-sum child support that is rendered on or
after the effective date of this Act.  Provides that the enactment of this
Act does not by itself constitute a material and substantial change of
circumstances sufficient to warrant modification of an order that provides
for the support of a child rendered before the effective date of this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.