H.B. No. 678




AN ACT

relating to the accrual of interest on overdue child support.                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 157.265, Family Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (d)-(f) to read as follows:
	(d)  Subsection (a) applies to a child support payment that 
becomes due on or after January 1, 2002.
	(e)  Child support arrearages in existence on January 1, 
2002, that were not confirmed and reduced to a money judgment on or 
before that date accrue interest as follows:
		(1)  before January 1, 2002, the arrearages are subject 
to the interest rate that applied to the arrearages before that 
date; and
		(2)  on and after January 1, 2002, the cumulative total 
of arrearages and interest accumulated on those arrearages 
described by Subdivision (1) is subject to Subsection (a).
	(f)  Subsections (b) and (c) apply to a money judgment for 
child support rendered on or after January 1, 2002.  A money 
judgment for child support rendered before that date is governed by 
the law in effect on the date the judgment was rendered, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 2.  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, 2005.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 678 was passed by the House on April 
19, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, 1 present, not 
voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 678 was passed by the Senate on May 
12, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor