HBA-SEP, CBW H.B. 591 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 591 By: Goodman Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 2/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a parent who fails to provide court-ordered health insurance for a child is liable for the child's necessary medical expenses. Often, when the obligated parent fails to provide health insurance, the other parent insures the child and incurs the cost of premiums. House Bill 591 expands the liability for a parent ordered to provide health insurance and who fails to do so to include the cost of health insurance premiums or contributions incurred on behalf of the child. 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 591 amends the Family Code to expand the liability for a parent ordered to provide health insurance and who fails to do so to include the cost of health insurance premiums or contributions, if any, paid on behalf of the child. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.