HBA-SEB H.B. 2354 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2354 By: Goodman Juvenile Justice and Family Issues 3/11/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Office of the Attorney General-Child Support Division (Title IV-D agency) provides a 66 percent federal funding match to a county for child support services that the county provides. Due to an increase in the filing of child support cases along with complex state and federal mandates, counties expend resources to cover costs and expenses of providing child support services without 100 percent funding. H.B. 2354 requires the Title IV-D agency to request an appropriation of funds from the legislature to cover the costs and expenses that the federal government does not reimburse. 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 231.205, Family Code, as follows: Sec. 231.205. New title: REQUEST FOR APPROPRIATION; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR AUTHORIZED FEES AND COSTS. (a) Requires the Title IV-D agency (Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division) to submit to the legislature a request for an appropriation of funds to cover the costs and fees incurred by a county under this subchapter (Payment of Fees and Costs) that are not reimbursed by the federal government. Prohibits the Title IV-D agency from expending funds appropriated for any purpose other than the purpose of this subsection. Provides that the Title IV-D agency is liable for those fees and costs if the Title IV-D agency fails to make a request under this subsection. (b) Provides that the Title IV-D agency is liable for a fee or cost under this subchapter only to the extent that an express, specific appropriation is made to the agency exclusively for that purpose, except as provided by Subsection (a) and Section 234.006. Makes a conforming change. (c) Redesignated from Subsection (b). SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 234, Family Code, as added by Section 94, Chapter 911, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, by adding Section 234.006, as follows: Sec. 234.006. LIABILITY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COSTS AND FEES. Provides that the Title IV-D agency is liable for the costs incurred in establishing and operating the unified state case registry and disbursement unit. Requires the Title IV-D agency to reimburse a county for an expense incurred by the county related to establishing or operating the unified state case registry and disbursement unit. Prohibits the Title IV-D agency from charging a county a fee for obtaining information from the unified state case registry and disbursement unit. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.