HBA-LJP H.B. 2511 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2511
By: Chavez
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, if health insurance is not available through the
obligor's employment, then a court is authorized to order an obligee to
provide health insurance for the child through the obligee's employment,
membership in a union, trade association, or other organization and to
order the obligor to pay additional support from withheld wages for the
actual cost of the health insurance, but does not authorize the court to
order an obligee to provide health insurance through state assisted
programs.  House Bill 2511 provides that a court is authorized to order an
obligee to provide health insurance for the child by means other than the
obligee's employment, membership in a union, trade association, or other
organization. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2511 amends the Family Code to authorize the court to order
child support that requires an obligee to provide health benefits coverage
through other sources such as the state Medicaid program and the state
child health plan for certain low-income children for the child of the
obligee, if health insurance is not available through the obligor's
employment. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.