HBA-AMW H.B. 2550 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2550
By: Uher
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
77/19/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, the amount of child support that a person
was required to pay was determined by guidelines that designated a certain
percentage based on the obligor's monthly net resources.  The social
security old age benefits that an obligor and the child received were not
considered by the court when determining the amount of a child support
order.  House Bill 2550 requires the court, when determining the amount of
the child support order, to apply the child support guidelines by
determining the amount of child support and subtracting from that total the
amount of benefits paid to or for the child as a result of the obligor's
receipt of social security benefits. 

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 2550 amends the Family Code to require the court, in applying
the child support guidelines for an obligor who is receiving social
security old age benefits (social security benefits) and who is required to
pay support for a child who receives benefits as a result of the obligor's
receipt of social security benefits, to apply the guidelines by determining
the amount of child support that would be ordered under the guidelines and
subtracting from that total the amount of benefits or the value of the
benefits paid to or for the child as a result of the obligor's receipt of
social security benefits. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001, and applies to a child support order entered before, on,
or after that date.