H.B. No. 1674
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to procedures for establishment, modification, and
  enforcement of child support obligations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 154.187(c), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  An employer who has received an order or notice under
  this subchapter shall provide to the sender, by first class mail not
  later than the 40th [30th] day after the date the employer receives
  the order or notice, a statement that the child:
               (1)  has been enrolled in the employer's health
  insurance plan or is already enrolled in another health insurance
  plan in accordance with a previous child support or medical support
  order to which the employee is subject; or
               (2)  cannot be enrolled or cannot be enrolled
  permanently in the employer's health insurance plan and provide the
  reason why coverage or permanent coverage cannot be provided.
         SECTION 2.  Section 154.303(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The parent, the child, if the child is 18 years of age or
  older, or other person may not transfer or assign the cause of
  action to any person, including a governmental or private entity or
  agency, except for an assignment made to the Title IV-D agency under
  Section 231.104 or in the provision of child support enforcement
  services under Section 159.307.
         SECTION 3.  Section 156.401, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), (a-2), or (b),
  the court may modify an order that provides for the support of a
  child, including an order for health care coverage under Section
  154.182, if:
               (1)  the circumstances of the child or a person
  affected by the order have materially and substantially changed
  since the earlier of:
                     (A)  the date of the order's rendition; or
                     (B)  the date of the signing of a mediated or
  collaborative law settlement agreement on which the order is based;
  or
               (2)  it has been three years since the order was
  rendered or last modified and the monthly amount of the child
  support award under the order differs by either 20 percent or $100
  from the amount that would be awarded in accordance with the child
  support guidelines.
         (a-2)  A court or administrative order for child support in a
  Title IV-D case may be modified as provided under Section
  233.013(c) to provide for medical support of a child.
         SECTION 4.  Section 157.162, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  The movant may attach to the motion a [A] copy of a [the]
  payment record. The movant may subsequently update that payment
  record at the hearing. If a payment record was attached to the
  motion as authorized by this subsection, the payment record, as
  updated if applicable, [attached to the motion is evidence of the
  facts asserted in the payment record and] is admissible to prove:
               (1)  the dates and in what amounts payments were made;
               (2)  the amount of any accrued interest;
               (3)  the cumulative arrearage over time; and
               (4)  the cumulative arrearage as of the final date of
  the record.
         (c-1)  A [show whether payments were made. The] respondent
  may offer [controverting] evidence controverting the contents of a
  payment record under Subsection (c).
         SECTION 5.  Section 157.263, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  In rendering a money judgment under this section, the
  court may not reduce or modify the amount of child support
  arrearages but, in confirming the amount of arrearages, may allow a
  counterclaim or offset as provided by this title.
         SECTION 6.  Sections 157.311(1) and (4), Family Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Account" means:
                     (A)  any type of a demand deposit account,
  checking or negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account,
  time deposit account, [money market] mutual fund account,
  certificate of deposit, or any other instrument of deposit in which
  an individual has a beneficial ownership either in its entirety or
  on a shared or multiple party basis, including any accrued interest
  and dividends; and
                     (B)  an [a life] insurance policy, including a
  life insurance policy or annuity contract, in which an individual
  has a beneficial ownership or [liability insurance] against which
  an individual may file [has filed] a claim or counterclaim.
               (4)  "Financial institution" has the meaning assigned
  by 42 U.S.C. Section 669a(d)(1) and includes a depository
  institution, depository institution holding company as defined by
  12 U.S.C. Section 1813(w), credit union, benefit association,
  [liability or life] insurance company, [money market] mutual fund,
  and any similar entity authorized to do business in this state.
         SECTION 7.  Section 157.317(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A child support lien attaches to all real and personal
  property not exempt under the Texas Constitution or other law,
  including:
               (1)  an account in a financial institution;
               (2)  a retirement plan, including an individual
  retirement account; [and]
               (3)  the proceeds of an [a life] insurance policy,
  including the proceeds from a life insurance policy or annuity
  contract and the proceeds from the sale or assignment of life
  insurance or annuity benefits, a claim for compensation [negligence
  or personal injury], or a [an insurance] settlement or award for the
  claim for compensation, due to or owned by the obligor; and
               (4)  property seized and subject to forfeiture under
  Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter G, Chapter 157, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 157.3271 to read as follows:
         Sec. 157.3271.  LEVY ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ACCOUNT OF
  DECEASED OBLIGOR. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the Title IV-D
  agency may, not earlier than the 90th day after the date of death of
  an obligor in a Title IV-D case, deliver a notice of levy to a
  financial institution in which the obligor was the sole owner of an
  account, regardless of whether the Title IV-D agency has issued a
  child support lien notice regarding the account.
         (b)  The Title IV-D agency may not deliver a notice of levy
  under this section if probate proceedings relating to the obligor's
  estate have commenced.
         (c)  The notice of levy must:
               (1)  identify the amount of child support arrearages
  determined by the Title IV-D agency to be owing and unpaid by the
  obligor on the date of the obligor's death; and
               (2)  direct the financial institution to pay to the
  Title IV-D agency, not earlier than the 45th day or later than the
  60th day after the date of delivery of the notice, an amount from
  the assets of the obligor or from funds due to the obligor that are
  held or controlled by the institution, not to exceed the amount of
  the child support arrearages identified in the notice.
         (d)  Not later than the 35th day after the date of delivery of
  the notice, the financial institution must notify any other person
  asserting a claim against the account that:
               (1)  the account has been levied on for child support
  arrearages in the amount shown on the notice of levy; and
               (2)  the person may contest the levy by filing suit and
  requesting a court hearing in the same manner that a person may
  challenge a child support lien under Section 157.323.
         (e)  A person who contests a levy under this section, as
  authorized by Subsection (d)(2), may bring the suit in:
               (1)  the district court of the county in which the
  property is located or in which the obligor resided; or
               (2)  the court of continuing jurisdiction.
         (f)  The notice of levy may be delivered to a financial
  institution as provided by Section 59.008, Finance Code, if the
  institution is subject to that law or may be delivered to the
  registered agent, the institution's main business office in this
  state, or another address provided by the institution under Section
  231.307.
         (g)  A financial institution may deduct its fees and costs,
  including any costs for complying with this section, from the
  deceased obligor's assets before paying the appropriate amount to
  the Title IV-D agency.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 158.203(b) and (b-1), Family Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An employer with 50 [250] or more employees shall remit
  a payment required under this section by electronic funds transfer
  or electronic data interchange not later than the second business
  day after the pay date.
         (b-1)  An employer with fewer than 50 [250] employees may
  remit a payment required under this section by electronic funds
  transfer or electronic data interchange. A payment remitted by the
  employer electronically must be remitted not later than the date
  specified by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 10.  The heading to Section 158.503, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 158.503.  DELIVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT TO EMPLOYER;
  FILING WITH COURT OR MAINTAINING RECORD.
         SECTION 11.  Section 158.503, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An administrative writ of withholding issued under this
  subchapter may be delivered to an [obligor, obligee, and] employer
  by mail or by electronic transmission.
         (b)  The Title IV-D agency shall:
               (1)  not [Not] later than the third business day after
  the date of delivery of the administrative writ of withholding to an
  employer, [the Title IV-D agency shall] file a copy of the writ,
  together with a signed certificate of service, in the court of
  continuing jurisdiction; or
               (2)  maintain a record of the writ until all support
  obligations of the obligor have been satisfied or income
  withholding has been terminated as provided by this chapter.
         (b-1)  The certificate of service required under Subsection
  (b)(1) may be signed electronically. [This subsection does not
  apply to the enforcement under Section 158.501(c) of a support
  order rendered by a tribunal of another state.]
         SECTION 12.  Section 231.015, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 231.015.  INSURANCE REPORTING PROGRAM. (a) In
  consultation with the Texas Department of Insurance and
  representatives of the insurance industry in this state, including
  insurance trade associations, the Title IV-D agency by rule shall
  operate a program [to improve the enforcement of child support,
  including the use of child support liens under Chapter 157. The
  program shall provide for procedures, including data matches,]
  under which insurers [insurance companies] shall cooperate with the
  Title IV-D agency in identifying obligors who owe child support
  arrearages and [or who] are subject to liens for child support
  arrearages to intercept certain [liability] insurance settlements
  or awards for claims in satisfaction of the arrearage amounts.
         (b)  An insurer [insurance company] that provides
  information or responds to a notice of child support lien or levy
  under Subchapter G, Chapter 157, or acts in good faith to comply
  with procedures established by the Title IV-D agency under this
  section is not liable for those acts under any law to any person.
         SECTION 13.  Subchapter B, Chapter 231, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 231.124 to read as follows:
         Sec. 231.124.  CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGES PAYMENT INCENTIVE
  PROGRAM. (a)  The Title IV-D agency may establish and administer a
  payment incentive program to promote payment by obligors who are
  delinquent in satisfying child support arrearages assigned to the
  Title IV-D agency under Section 231.104(a).
         (b)  A program established under this section must provide to
  a participating obligor a credit for every dollar amount paid by the
  obligor on interest and arrearages balances during each month of
  the obligor's voluntary enrollment in the program. In establishing
  a program under this section, the Title IV-D agency by rule must
  prescribe:
               (1)  criteria for a child support obligor's initial
  eligibility to participate in the program;
               (2)  the conditions for a child support obligor's
  continued participation in the program;
               (3)  procedures for enrollment in the program; and
               (4)  the terms of the financial incentives to be
  offered under the program.
         (c)  The Title IV-D agency shall provide eligible obligors
  with notice of the program and enrollment instructions.
         SECTION 14.  Section 231.307, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  A financial institution providing information or
  responding to a notice of child support lien or levy provided under
  Subchapter G, Chapter 157, or otherwise acting in good faith to
  comply with the Title IV-D agency's procedures under this section
  may not be liable under any federal or state law for any damages
  that arise from those acts.
         (g)  This section does not apply to an insurer subject to the
  reporting requirements under Section 231.015.
         SECTION 15.  The heading to Section 232.0135, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 232.0135.  DENIAL OF LICENSE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL.
         SECTION 16.  Sections 232.0135(a), (b), (c), and (d), Family
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A child support agency, as defined by Section 101.004,
  may provide notice to a licensing authority concerning an obligor
  who has failed to pay child support for six months or more that
  requests the authority to refuse to accept an application for
  issuance of a license to the obligor or renewal of an existing [the]
  license of the obligor.
         (b)  A licensing authority that receives the information
  described by Subsection (a) shall refuse to accept an application
  for issuance of a license to the obligor or renewal of an existing
  [the] license of the obligor until the authority is notified by the
  child support agency that the obligor has:
               (1)  paid all child support arrearages;
               (2)  established with the agency a satisfactory
  repayment schedule or is in compliance with a court order for
  payment of the arrearages;
               (3)  been granted an exemption from this subsection as
  part of a court-supervised plan to improve the obligor's earnings
  and child support payments; or
               (4)  successfully contested the denial of issuance or
  renewal of license under Subsection (d).
         (c)  On providing a licensing authority with the notice
  described by Subsection (a), the child support agency shall send a
  copy to the obligor by first class mail and inform the obligor of
  the steps the obligor must take to permit the authority to accept
  the obligor's application for license issuance or renewal.
         (d)  An obligor receiving notice under Subsection (c) may
  request a review by the child support agency to resolve any issue in
  dispute regarding the identity of the obligor or the existence or
  amount of child support arrearages. The agency shall promptly
  provide an opportunity for a review, either by telephone or in
  person, as appropriate to the circumstances. After the review, if
  appropriate, the agency may notify the licensing authority that it
  may accept the obligor's application for issuance or renewal of
  license. If the agency and the obligor fail to resolve any issue in
  dispute, the obligor, not later than the 30th day after the date of
  receiving notice of the agency's determination from the review, may
  file a motion with the court to direct the agency to withdraw the
  notice under Subsection (a) and request a hearing on the motion.
  The obligor's application for license issuance or renewal may not
  be accepted by the licensing authority until the court rules on the
  motion. If, after a review by the agency or a hearing by the court,
  the agency withdraws the notice under Subsection (a), the agency
  shall reimburse the obligor the amount of any fee charged the
  obligor under Section 232.014.
         SECTION 17.  Section 232.014(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A licensing authority may charge a fee to an individual
  who is the subject of an order suspending license or of an action of
  a child support agency under Section 232.0135 to deny issuance or
  renewal of license in an amount sufficient to recover the
  administrative costs incurred by the authority under this chapter.
         SECTION 18.  Section 233.012, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 233.012.  INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED AT
  NEGOTIATION CONFERENCE. At the beginning of the negotiation
  conference, the child support review officer shall review with the
  parties participating in the conference information provided in the
  notice of child support review and inform the parties that:
               (1)  the purpose of the negotiation conference is to
  provide an opportunity to reach an agreement on a child support
  order;
               (2)  if the parties reach an agreement, the review
  officer will prepare an agreed review order to be effective
  immediately on being confirmed by the court, as provided by Section
  233.024;
               (3)  a party does not have to sign a review order
  prepared by the child support review officer but that the Title IV-D
  agency may file a review order without the agreement of the parties;
               (4)  the parties may sign a waiver of the right to
  service of process;
               (5)  a party may file a request for a court hearing on a
  nonagreed order not later than [at any time before] the 20th day
  after the date a copy of the petition for confirmation of the order
  is delivered to the party [filed]; and
               (6)  a party may file a motion for a new trial not later
  than [at any time before] the 30th day after an order is confirmed
  by the court.
         SECTION 19.  Section 233.013, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the Title IV-D agency
  may, at any time and without a showing of material and substantial
  change in the circumstances of the parties, file a child support
  review order that has the effect of modifying an existing order for
  child support to provide medical support for a child if the existing
  order does not provide health care coverage for the child as
  required under Section 154.182.
         SECTION 20.  Section 1108.101, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1108.101.  ASSIGNMENT GENERALLY. (a) This chapter
  does not prevent an insured, owner, or annuitant from assigning, in
  accordance with the terms of the policy or contract:
               (1)  any benefits to be provided under an insurance
  policy or annuity contract to which this chapter applies; or
               (2)  any other rights under the policy or contract.
         (b)  A benefit or right described by Subsection (a) assigned
  by an insured, owner, or annuitant after a child support lien notice
  has been filed against the insured, owner, or annuitant by the Title
  IV-D agency continues to be subject to the child support lien after
  the date of assignment. The lien continues to secure payment of all
  child support arrearages owed by the insured, owner, or annuitant
  under the underlying child support order, including arrearages that
  accrue after the date of assignment.
         SECTION 21.  Section 411.1271, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (b-1)  The office of the attorney general is entitled to
  obtain from the Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of
  Investigation identification division, or another law enforcement
  agency criminal history record information maintained by the
  department or agency that relates to a person who owes child support
  in a Title IV-D case, as defined by Section 101.034, Family Code,
  for the purposes of locating that person and establishing,
  modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation against that
  person.
         (c)  Criminal history record information obtained by the
  office of the attorney general under this section [Subsection (a)
  or (b)] may not be released or disclosed to any person except on
  court order or with the consent of the person who is the subject of
  the criminal history record information.
         SECTION 22.  Section 34.04(a), Tax Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A person, including a taxing unit and the Title IV-D
  agency, may file a petition in the court that ordered the seizure or
  sale setting forth a claim to the excess proceeds. The petition
  must be filed before the second anniversary of the date of the sale
  of the property. The petition is not required to be filed as an
  original suit separate from the underlying suit for seizure of the
  property or foreclosure of a tax lien on the property but may be
  filed under the cause number of the underlying suit.
         SECTION 23.  Article 59.06(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (k), all forfeited
  property shall be administered by the attorney representing the
  state, acting as the agent of the state, in accordance with accepted
  accounting practices and with the provisions of any local agreement
  entered into between the attorney representing the state and law
  enforcement agencies. If a local agreement has not been executed,
  the property shall be sold on the 75th day after the date of the
  final judgment of forfeiture at public auction under the direction
  of the county sheriff, after notice of public auction as provided by
  law for other sheriff's sales. The proceeds of the sale shall be
  distributed as follows:
               (1)  to any interest holder to the extent of the
  interest holder's nonforfeitable interest; [and]
               (2)  after any distributions under Subdivision (1), if
  the Title IV-D agency has filed a child support lien in the
  forfeiture proceeding, to the Title IV-D agency in an amount not to
  exceed the amount of child support arrearages identified in the
  lien; and
               (3)  the balance, if any, after the deduction of court
  costs to which a district court clerk is entitled under Article
  59.05(f) and, after that deduction, the deduction of storage and
  disposal costs, to be deposited not later than the 30th day after
  the date of the sale in the state treasury to the credit of the
  general revenue fund.
         SECTION 24.  Section 157.262, Family Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 25.  Section 233.017(c), Family Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 26.  Section 154.187(c), Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to an order or notice received by an employer on
  or after the effective date of this Act. An order or notice
  received by an employer before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the order or notice was
  received, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 27.  Sections 156.401(a-2) and 233.013(c), Family
  Code, as added by this Act, apply to each child support order,
  regardless of whether the order was rendered before, during, or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 28.  Section 157.162, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to a motion for child support enforcement filed on
  or after the effective date of this Act. A motion filed before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
  date the motion was filed, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 29.  Section 157.263(b-1), Family Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to a motion for enforcement of child support that
  is pending before a trial court on or filed on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 30.  Section 158.203, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to child support payments withheld by an employer
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 31.  Section 158.503, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to an administrative writ of withholding issued
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 32.  Section 1108.101(b), Insurance Code, as added
  by this Act, applies to an assignment made on or after the effective
  date of this Act. An assignment made before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the assignment
  was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 33.  Article 59.06(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  as amended by this Act, applies to a sale of forfeited property that
  occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. A sale that
  occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
  in effect on the date the property was sold, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 34.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1674 was passed by the House on March
  30, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1674 on May 16, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1674 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 4, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor