84R2873 JSC-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 545
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by
  contempt.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 157.162, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  The court may not find a respondent in contempt of court
  for failure to pay child support if the respondent appears at the
  hearing with a copy of the payment record or other evidence
  satisfactory to the court showing that the respondent is current in
  the payment of child support as ordered by the court.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  hearing to enforce an order in a suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship that commences on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A hearing that commences before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the date the hearing commenced,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.