MPA C.S.H.B. 624 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 624
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
3/4/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



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.  C.S.H.B. 624 removes the
population restriction and allows counties 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 removing the
population restriction, 
transferring it to Title 5, Family Code, and redesignating it as Chapter
204.  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
204.001-204.005 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 Resources Code, or an act taken under
the contract. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  C.S.H.B. 624 differs from the original by deleting the
population requirement for applicability of this chapter, and makes
conforming changes.