S.B. No. 228
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship,
  including proceedings for the establishment, modification, and
  enforcement of child support, parentage, and possession of and
  access to a child; providing a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 101, Family Code, is amended by adding
  Section 101.0255 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.0255.  RECORD.  "Record" means information that is:
               (1)  inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an
  electronic or other medium; and
               (2)  retrievable in a perceivable form.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (d), Section 102.009, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  If the petition requests the establishment,
  termination, modification, or enforcement of a support right
  assigned to the Title IV-D agency under Chapter 231 or the
  rescission of a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity under Chapter
  160, notice shall be given to the Title IV-D agency in a manner
  provided by Rule 21a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
         SECTION 3.  Subsection (g), Section 105.006, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (g)  The Title IV-D agency shall promulgate and provide forms
  for a party to use in reporting to the court and[, when established,
  to] the state case registry under Chapter 234 the information
  required under this section.
         SECTION 4.  Section 108.001, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by this chapter, the clerk of the
  court shall transmit to the bureau of vital statistics a certified
  record of the order rendered in a suit, together with the name and
  all prior names, birth date, and place of birth of the child
  [prepared by the petitioner] on a form provided by the bureau. The
  form shall be completed by the petitioner and submitted to the clerk
  at the time the order is filed for record.
         (d)  In a Title IV-D case, the Title IV-D agency may transmit
  the record and information specified by Subsection (a) to the
  bureau of vital statistics, with a copy to the clerk of the court on
  request by the clerk. The record and information are not required
  to be certified if transmitted by the Title IV-D agency under this
  subsection.
         SECTION 5.  Section 108.004, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 108.004.  TRANSMITTAL OF FILES ON LOSS OF JURISDICTION.
  On the loss of jurisdiction of a court under Chapter 155, 159, or
  262, the clerk of the court shall transmit to the central registry
  of the bureau of vital statistics a certified record, on a form
  provided by the bureau, stating that jurisdiction has been lost,
  the reason for the loss of jurisdiction, and the name and all
  previous names, date of birth, and place of birth of the child.
         SECTION 6.  Subsection (b), Section 151.001, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The duty of a parent to support his or her child exists
  while the child is an unemancipated minor and continues as long as
  the child is fully enrolled in a [an accredited] secondary school in
  a program leading toward a high school diploma and complies with
  attendance requirements described by Section 154.002(a)(2) [until
  the end of the school year in which the child graduates].
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 153.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 153.015.  ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH CHILD BY
  CONSERVATOR. (a)  In this section, "electronic communication"
  means any communication facilitated by the use of any wired or
  wireless technology via the Internet or any other electronic media.
  The term includes communication facilitated by the use of a
  telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, videoconferencing,
  or webcam.
         (b)  If a conservator of a child requests the court to order
  periods of electronic communication with the child under this
  section, the court may award the conservator reasonable periods of
  electronic communication with the child to supplement the
  conservator's periods of possession of the child. In determining
  whether to award electronic communication, the court shall
  consider:
               (1)  whether electronic communication is in the best
  interest of the child;
               (2)  whether equipment necessary to facilitate the
  electronic communication is reasonably available to all parties
  subject to the order; and
               (3)  any other factor the court considers appropriate.
         (c)  If a court awards a conservator periods of electronic
  communication with a child under this section, each conservator
  subject to the court's order shall:
               (1)  provide the other conservator with the e-mail
  address and other electronic communication access information of
  the child;
               (2)  notify the other conservator of any change in the
  e-mail address or other electronic communication access
  information not later than 24 hours after the date the change takes
  effect; and
               (3)  if necessary equipment is reasonably available,
  accommodate electronic communication with the child, with the same
  privacy, respect, and dignity accorded all other forms of access,
  at a reasonable time and for a reasonable duration subject to any
  limitation provided by the court in the court's order.
         (d)  The court may not consider the availability of
  electronic communication as a factor in determining child support.
  The availability of electronic communication under this section is
  not intended as a substitute for physical possession of or access to
  the child where otherwise appropriate.
         (e)  In a suit in which the court's order contains provisions
  related to a finding of family violence in the suit, including
  supervised visitation, the court may award periods of electronic
  communication under this section only if:
               (1)  the award and terms of the award are mutually
  agreed to by the parties; and
               (2)  the terms of the award:
                     (A)  are printed in the court's order in
  boldfaced, capitalized type; and
                     (B)  include any specific restrictions relating
  to family violence or supervised visitation, as applicable,
  required by other law to be included in a possession or access
  order.
         SECTION 8.  Section 153.3161, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 153.3161.  [LIMITED] POSSESSION DURING MILITARY
  DEPLOYMENT. (a)  In this section, "military deployment" means
  military duty ordered for a period of more than six months during
  which the person ordered to duty:
               (1)  is not provided the option of being accompanied by
  the person's child; and
               (2)  is serving in a location where access to the
  person's child is not reasonably possible.
         (b)  In addition to the general terms and conditions of
  possession required by Section 153.316, if a possessory conservator
  or a joint managing conservator of the child without the exclusive
  right to designate the primary residence of the child is currently a
  member of the armed forces of the state or the United States or is
  reasonably expected to join those forces, the court shall:
               (1)  permit that conservator to designate a person who
  may exercise [limited] possession of the child on behalf of that
  conservator during any period that the conservator is deployed
  under a military deployment [outside of the United States]; and
               (2)  if the conservator elects to designate a person
  under Subdivision (1), provide in the order for [limited]
  possession of the child by the designated person under those
  circumstances, subject to the court's determination that the
  [limited] possession is in the best interest of the child.
         (c) [(b)]  If the court determines that the [limited]
  possession is in the best interest of the child, the court shall
  provide in the order that during periods of military deployment:
               (1)  the designated person has the right to possession
  of the child for the periods and in the manner in which the deployed
  conservator would be entitled to exercise possession if not
  deployed [on the first weekend of each month beginning at 6 p.m. on
  Friday and ending at 6 p.m. on Sunday];
               (2)  [the other parent shall surrender the child to the
  designated person at the beginning of each period of possession at
  the other parent's residence;
               [(3)     the designated person shall return the child to
  the other parent's residence at the end of each period of
  possession;
               [(4)]  the child's other parent and the designated
  person are subject to the requirements of Section 153.316, with the
  designated person considered for purposes of that section to be the
  possessory conservator [Sections 153.316(5)-(9)];
               (3) [(5)]  the designated person has the rights and
  duties of a nonparent possessory conservator under Section
  153.376(a) during the period that the person has possession of the
  child; and
               (4) [(6)]  the designated person is subject to any
  provision in a court order restricting or prohibiting access to the
  child by any specified individual.
         (d) [(c)]  After the military deployment is concluded, and
  the deployed parent returns to that parent's usual residence, the
  designated person's right to [limited] possession under this
  section terminates and the rights of all affected parties are
  governed by the terms of any court order applicable when a parent is
  not deployed.
         SECTION 9.  (a)  Subsection (a), Section 154.006, Family
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly
  provided in the order or as provided by Subsection (b), the child
  support order terminates on:
               (1)  the marriage of the child;
               (2)  the removal of the child's disabilities for
  general purposes;
               (3)  the death of:
                     (A)  the child; or
                     (B)  a parent ordered to pay child support; [or]
               (4)  a finding by a court that the child:
                     (A)  is 18 years of age or older; and
                     (B)  has failed to comply with the enrollment or
  attendance requirements described by Section 154.002(a); or
               (5)  if the child enlists in the armed forces of the
  United States, the date on which the child begins active service as
  defined by 10 U.S.C. Section 101.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act to Subsection (a),
  Section 154.006, Family Code, applies to an order for child support
  regardless of whether the order was rendered before, on, or after
  the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 10.  Section 154.127, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 154.127.  PARTIAL TERMINATION OF SUPPORT
  OBLIGATION. (a)  A child support order for more than one child
  shall provide that, on the termination of support for a child, the
  level of support for the remaining child or children is in
  accordance with the child support guidelines.
         (b)  A child support order is in compliance with the
  requirement imposed by Subsection (a) if the order contains a
  provision that specifies:
               (1)  the events, including a child reaching the age of
  18 years or otherwise having the disabilities of minority removed,
  that have the effect of terminating the obligor's obligation to pay
  child support for that child; and
               (2)  the reduced total amount that the obligor is
  required to pay each month after the occurrence of an event
  described by Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 11.  (a)  Section 154.131, Family Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle,
  the court retains jurisdiction to render an order for retroactive
  child support in a suit if a petition requesting retroactive child
  support is filed not later than the fourth anniversary of the date
  of the child's 18th birthday.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act by the enactment of
  Subsection (f), Section 154.131, Family Code, applies only to a
  petition in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending
  in a trial court on or filed on or after the effective date of this
  Act.
         SECTION 12.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 154.186,
  Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The obligee, obligor, or a child support agency of this
  state or another state may send to the employer a copy of the order
  requiring an employee to provide health insurance coverage for a
  child or may include notice of the medical support order in an order
  or writ of withholding sent to the employer in accordance with
  Chapter 158.
         (b)  In an appropriate Title IV-D case, the Title IV-D agency
  of this state or another state shall send to the employer the
  national medical support notice required under Part D, Title IV of
  the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.), as
  amended. The notice may be used in any other suit in which an
  obligor is ordered to provide health insurance coverage for a
  child.
         SECTION 13.  Subsection (c), Section 155.301, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if [If]
  a transfer of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction is sought under
  this section, the procedures for determining and effecting a
  transfer of proceedings provided by this chapter apply. If the
  parties submit to the court an agreed order for transfer, the court
  shall sign the order without the need for other pleadings.
         SECTION 14.  Section 156.105, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 156.105.  MODIFICATION OF ORDER BASED ON MILITARY
  DEPLOYMENT. (a)  In this section, "military deployment" means
  military duty ordered for a period of more than six months during
  which the person ordered to duty:
               (1)  is not provided the option of being accompanied by
  the person's child; and
               (2)  is serving in a location where access to the
  person's child is not reasonably possible.
         (b)  The military deployment [outside this country] of a
  person who is a possessory conservator or a joint managing
  conservator without the exclusive right to designate the primary
  residence of the child is a material and substantial change of
  circumstances sufficient to justify a modification of an existing
  court order or portion of a decree that sets the terms and
  conditions for the possession of or access to a child.
         (c) [(b)]  If the court determines that modification is in
  the best interest of the child, the court may modify the order or
  decree to provide in a manner consistent with Section 153.3161 for
  [limited] possession of the child during the period of the military 
  deployment by a person designated by the deployed conservator.
         SECTION 15.  Subsection (b), Section 156.401, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A support order may be modified with regard to the
  amount of support ordered only as to obligations accruing after the
  earlier of:
               (1)  the date of service of citation; or
               (2)  an appearance in the suit to modify.
         SECTION 16.  Section 156.409, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and
  (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a)  The [If the sole managing conservator of a child or the
  joint managing conservator who has the exclusive right to determine
  the primary residence of the child has voluntarily relinquished the
  primary care and possession of the child to another person for at
  least six months, the] court shall, on the motion of a party or a 
  [the other] person having physical possession of the child, modify
  an order providing for the support of the child to provide that the
  [other] person having physical possession of the child for at least
  six months shall have the right to receive and give receipt for
  payments of support for the child and to hold or disburse money for
  the benefit of the child if the sole managing conservator of the
  child or the joint managing conservator who has the exclusive right
  to determine the primary residence of the child has:
               (1)  voluntarily relinquished the primary care and
  possession of the child;
               (2)  been incarcerated or sentenced to be incarcerated
  for at least 90 days; or
               (3)  relinquished the primary care and possession of
  the child in a proceeding under Title 3 or Chapter 262.
         (a-1)  If the court modifies a support order under this
  section, the court shall order the obligor to pay the person or
  entity having physical possession of the child any unpaid child
  support that is not subject to offset or reimbursement under
  Section 157.008 and that accrues after the date the sole or joint
  managing conservator:
               (1)  relinquishes possession and control of the child,
  whether voluntarily or in a proceeding under Title 3 or Chapter 262;
  or
               (2)  is incarcerated.
         (a-2)  This section does not affect the ability of the court
  to render a temporary order for the payment of child support that is
  in the best interest of the child.
         (a-3)  An order under this section that modifies a support
  order because of the incarceration of the sole or joint managing
  conservator of a child must provide that on the conservator's
  release from incarceration the conservator may file an affidavit
  with the court stating that the conservator has been released from
  incarceration, that there has not been a modification of the
  conservatorship of the child during the incarceration, and that the
  conservator has resumed physical possession of the child. A copy of
  the affidavit shall be delivered to the obligor and any other party,
  including the Title IV-D agency if appropriate. On receipt of the
  affidavit, the court on its own motion shall order the obligor to
  make support payments to the conservator.
         SECTION 17.  Subsection (a), Section 157.005, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The court retains jurisdiction to render a contempt
  order for failure to comply with the child support order if the
  motion for enforcement is filed not later than the second
  anniversary of [sixth month after] the date:
               (1)  the child becomes an adult; or
               (2)  on which the child support obligation terminates
  under the order or by operation of law.
         SECTION 18.  Subsection (a), Section 157.065, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a party has been ordered under Chapter 105 to provide
  the court and the state case registry with the party's current
  mailing address, notice of a hearing on a motion for enforcement may
  be served by mailing a copy of the notice to the respondent,
  together with a copy of the motion, by first class mail to the last
  mailing address of the respondent on file with the court and the
  registry.
         SECTION 19.  Section 157.102, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.102.  CAPIAS OR WARRANT; DUTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
  OFFICIALS. Law enforcement officials shall treat a [the] capias or
  arrest warrant ordered under this chapter in the same manner as an
  arrest warrant for a criminal offense and shall enter the capias or
  warrant in the computer records for outstanding warrants maintained
  by the local police, sheriff, and Department of Public Safety. The
  capias or warrant shall be forwarded to and disseminated by the
  Texas Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information
  Center.
         SECTION 20.  Section 157.268, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.268.  APPLICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT. Child
  support collected shall be applied in the following order of
  priority:
               (1)  current child support;
               (2)  non-delinquent child support owed;
               (3)  interest on the principal amounts specified in
  Subdivisions (4) and (5);
               (4)  the principal amount of child support that has not
  been confirmed and reduced to money judgment;
               (5)  the principal amount of child support that has
  been confirmed and reduced to money judgment; and
               (6)  the amount of any ordered attorney's fees or costs,
  or Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for
  which the obligor is responsible.
         SECTION 21.  Subsections (a) and (c), Section 157.105,
  Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If the respondent is taken into custody and not released
  on bond, the respondent shall be brought before the court that
  issued the capias on or before the third [first] working day after
  the arrest. The court shall determine whether the respondent's
  appearance in court at a designated time and place can be assured by
  a method other than by posting the bond or security previously
  established.
         (c)  If the court is not satisfied that the respondent's
  appearance in court can be assured and the respondent remains in
  custody, a hearing on the alleged contempt shall be held as soon as
  practicable, but not later than the seventh [fifth] day after the
  date that the respondent was taken into custody, unless the
  respondent and the respondent's attorney waive the accelerated
  hearing.
         SECTION 22.  Section 157.212, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.212.  TERM OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.  The initial
  period of community supervision [period] may not exceed 10 years.
  The court may continue the community supervision beyond 10 years
  until the earlier of:
               (1)  the second anniversary of the date on which the
  community supervision first exceeded 10 years; or
               (2)  the date on which all child support, including
  arrearages and interest, has been paid.
         SECTION 23.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 157.216,
  Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The court shall hold a hearing without a jury not later
  than [on or before] the third [first] working day after the date the
  respondent is arrested under Section 157.215. If the court is
  unavailable for a hearing on that date, the hearing shall be held
  not later than the third [first] working day after the date the
  court becomes available.
         (b)  The hearing under this section may not be held later
  than the seventh [third] working day after the date the respondent
  is arrested.
         SECTION 24.  Subsection (c), Section 157.263, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  If the amount of arrearages confirmed by the court
  reflects a credit to the obligor for support arrearages collected
  from a federal tax refund under 42 U.S.C. Section 664, [as amended,]
  and, subsequently, the amount of that credit is reduced because the
  refund was adjusted because of an injured spouse claim by a jointly
  filing spouse, the tax return was amended, the return was audited by
  the Internal Revenue Service, or for another reason permitted by
  law [based on a joint return under which another person was entitled
  to a share of the refund under 42 U.S.C. Section 664, as amended],
  the court shall render a new cumulative judgment to include as
  arrearages an amount equal to the amount by which the credit was
  reduced.
         SECTION 25.  Subsection (b), Section 157.264, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The court shall [may] render an order requiring[:
               [(1)     that income be withheld from the disposable
  earnings of the obligor in an amount sufficient to discharge the
  judgment in not more than two years; or
               [(2)     if the obligor is not subject to income
  withholding,] that the obligor make periodic payments on the
  judgment, including by income withholding under Chapter 158 if the
  obligor is subject to income withholding [to the obligee in an
  amount sufficient to discharge the judgment within a reasonable
  time].
         SECTION 26.  Section 157.269, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.269.  RETENTION OF JURISDICTION.  A court that
  renders an order providing for the payment of child support
  [arrearages] retains continuing jurisdiction to enforce the order,
  including by adjusting the amount of the periodic payments to be
  made by the obligor or the amount to be withheld from the obligor's
  disposable earnings, until all current support and medical support
  and child support arrearages, including interest and any applicable
  fees and costs, have been paid.
         SECTION 27.  Section 157.313, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding Subsection (f) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a child support
  lien notice must contain:
               (1)  the name and address of the person to whom the
  notice is being sent;
               (2)  the style, docket or cause number, and identity of
  the tribunal of this or another state having continuing
  jurisdiction of the child support action and, if the case is a Title
  IV-D case, the case number;
               (3)  the full name, address, and, if known, the birth
  date, driver's license number, social security number, and any
  aliases of the obligor;
               (4)  the full name and, if known, social security
  number of the obligee;
               (5)  the amount of the current or prospective child
  support obligation, the frequency with which current or prospective
  child support is ordered to be paid, and the amount of child support
  arrearages owed by the obligor and the date of the signing of the
  court order, administrative order, or writ that determined the
  arrearages or the date and manner in which the arrearages were
  determined;
               (6)  the rate of interest specified in the court order,
  administrative order, or writ or, in the absence of a specified
  interest rate, the rate provided for by law;
               (7)  the name and address of the person or agency
  asserting the lien;
               (8)  the motor vehicle identification number as shown
  on the obligor's title if the property is a motor vehicle;
               (9)  a statement that the lien attaches to all
  nonexempt real and personal property of the obligor that is located
  or recorded in the state, including any property specifically
  identified in the notice and any property acquired after the date of
  filing or delivery of the notice;
               (10)  a statement that any ordered child support not
  timely paid in the future constitutes a final judgment for the
  amount due and owing, including interest, and accrues up to an
  amount that may not exceed the lien amount; and
               (11)  a statement that the obligor is being provided a
  copy of the lien notice and that the obligor may dispute the
  arrearage amount by filing suit under Section 157.323.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The] lien
  notice must be verified.
         (e)  A notice of a lien for child support under this section
  may be in the form authorized by federal law or regulation. The
  federal form of lien notice does not require verification when used
  by the Title IV-D agency.
         (f)  The requirement under Subsections (a)(3) and (4) to
  provide a social security number, if known, does not apply to a lien
  notice for a lien on real property.
         SECTION 28.  Subsection (a-1), Section 157.317, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A lien attaches to all property owned or acquired on
  or after the date the lien notice or abstract of judgment is filed
  with the county clerk of the county in which the property is
  located, with the court clerk as to property or claims in
  litigation, or, as to property of the obligor in the possession or
  control of a third party, from the date the lien notice is delivered
  to [filed with] that party.
         SECTION 29.  Subsection (a), Section 157.318, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A lien is effective until all current support and child
  support arrearages, including interest, [and] any costs and
  reasonable attorney's fees, and any Title IV-D service fees
  authorized under Section 231.103 for which the obligor is
  responsible, have been paid or the lien is otherwise released as
  provided by this subchapter.
         SECTION 30.  Section 157.324, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.324.  LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ORDER OR
  LIEN. A person who knowingly disposes of property subject to a
  child support lien or[,] who, after a foreclosure hearing, fails to
  surrender on demand nonexempt personal property as directed by a
  court [or administrative order] under this subchapter[, or who
  fails to comply with a notice of levy under this subchapter] is
  liable to the claimant in an amount equal to the value of the
  property disposed of or not surrendered, not to exceed the amount of
  the child support arrearages for which the lien[, notice of levy,]
  or foreclosure judgment was issued.
         SECTION 31.  Section 157.327, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The notice under this section must:
               (1)  identify the amount of child support arrearages
  owing at the time the amount of arrearages was determined or, if the
  amount is less, the amount of arrearages owing at the time the
  notice is prepared and delivered to the financial institution; and
               (2)  direct the financial institution to pay to the
  claimant, not earlier than the 15th day or later than the 21st 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, unless:
                     (A)  the institution is notified by the claimant
  that the obligor has paid the arrearages or made arrangements
  satisfactory to the claimant for the payment of the arrearages;
                     (B)  the obligor or another person files a suit
  under Section 157.323 requesting a hearing by the court; or
                     (C)  if the claimant is the Title IV-D agency, the
  obligor has requested an agency review under Section 157.328.
         (f)  A financial institution may deduct the fees and costs
  identified in Subsection (c) from the obligor's assets before
  paying the appropriate amount to the claimant.
         SECTION 32.  Section 157.330, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 157.330.  FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH NOTICE OF LEVY. (a)  A
  person who possesses or has a right to property that is the subject
  of a notice of levy delivered to the person and who refuses to
  surrender the property or right to property to the claimant on
  demand is liable to the claimant in an amount equal to the value of
  the property or right to property not surrendered but that does not
  exceed the amount of the child support arrearages for which the
  notice of levy has been filed.
         (b)  A claimant may recover costs and reasonable attorney's
  fees incurred in an action under this section.
         SECTION 33.  Subchapter C, Chapter 158, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 158.214 to read as follows:
         Sec. 158.214.  WITHHOLDING FROM SEVERANCE PAY. (a)  In this
  section, "severance pay" means income paid on termination of
  employment in addition to the employee's usual earnings from the
  employer at the time of termination.
         (b)  An employer receiving an order or writ of withholding
  under this chapter shall withhold from any severance pay owed an
  obligor an amount equal to the amount the employer would have
  withheld under the order or writ if the severance pay had been paid
  as the obligor's usual earnings as a current employee.
         (c)  The total amount that may be withheld under this section
  is subject to the maximum amount allowed to be withheld under
  Section 158.009.
         SECTION 34.  Subchapter C, Chapter 158, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 158.215 to read as follows:
         Sec. 158.215.  WITHHOLDING FROM LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS. (a)  In
  this section, "lump-sum payment" means income in the form of a bonus
  or commission or an amount paid in lieu of vacation or other leave
  time. The term does not include an employee's usual earnings or an
  amount paid as severance pay on termination of employment.
         (b)  This section applies only to an employer who receives an
  administrative writ of withholding in a Title IV-D case that
  requires that an obligor's income be withheld for child support
  arrearages.
         (c)  An employer to whom this section applies may not make a
  lump-sum payment to the obligor in the amount of $500 or more
  without first notifying the Title IV-D agency that issued the writ
  to determine whether all or a portion of the payment should be
  applied to the child support arrearages.
         (d)  After notifying the Title IV-D agency in compliance with
  Subsection (c), the employer may not make the lump-sum payment
  before the earlier of:
               (1)  the 10th day after the date on which the employer
  notified the Title IV-D agency; or
               (2)  the date on which the employer receives
  authorization from the Title IV-D agency to make the payment.
         (e)  If the employer receives a timely authorization from the
  Title IV-D agency under Subsection (d)(2), the employer may make
  the payment only in accordance with the terms of that
  authorization.
         SECTION 35.  Subsection (a), Section 158.502, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An administrative writ of withholding under this
  subchapter may be issued by the Title IV-D agency at any time until
  all current support, including medical support, and child support
  arrearages, and Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section
  231.103 for which the obligor is responsible, have been paid. The
  writ issued under this subsection may be based on an obligation in
  more than one support order.
         SECTION 36.  Section 158.506, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  If a review under this section fails to resolve any
  issue in dispute, the obligor [is entitled to the remedies provided
  by Section 158.317 for cases in which a notice of an application for
  judicial writ of withholding was not received. The obligor] may
  file a motion with the court to withdraw the administrative writ of
  withholding and request a hearing with the court not later than the
  30th day after receiving notice of the agency's determination.
  Income withholding may not be interrupted pending a hearing by the
  court.
         (d)  If an administrative writ of withholding issued under
  this subchapter is based on an order of a tribunal of another state
  that has not been registered under Chapter 159, the obligor may file
  a motion with an appropriate court in accordance with Subsection
  (c).
         SECTION 37.  Section 158.507, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 158.507.  ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT TERMINATING WITHHOLDING.
  An administrative writ to terminate withholding may be issued and
  delivered to an employer by the Title IV-D agency when all current
  support, including medical support, and child support arrearages,
  and Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for
  which the obligor is responsible, have been paid.
         SECTION 38.  Subdivision (23), Section 159.102, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
               (23)  "Support order" means a judgment, decree, [or]
  order, or directive, whether temporary, final, or subject to
  modification, issued by a tribunal for the benefit of a child, a
  spouse, or a former spouse that provides for monetary support,
  health care, arrearages, or reimbursement and may include related
  costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorney's fees, and
  other relief.
         SECTION 39.  Subdivision (6), Section 160.102, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
               (6)  "Donor" means an individual who provides
  [produces] eggs or sperm to a licensed physician to be used for
  assisted reproduction, regardless of whether the eggs or sperm are
  provided [production is] for consideration. The term does not
  include:
                     (A)  a husband who provides sperm or a wife who
  provides eggs to be used for assisted reproduction by the wife; [or]
                     (B)  a woman who gives birth to a child by means of
  assisted reproduction; or
                     (C)  an unmarried man who, with the intent to be
  the father of the resulting child, provides sperm to be used for
  assisted reproduction by an unmarried woman, as provided by Section
  160.7031.
         SECTION 40.  Subchapter H, Chapter 160, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 160.7031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 160.7031.  UNMARRIED MAN'S PATERNITY OF CHILD OF
  ASSISTED REPRODUCTION. (a)  If an unmarried man, with the intent
  to be the father of a resulting child, provides sperm to a licensed
  physician and consents to the use of that sperm for assisted
  reproduction by an unmarried woman, he is the father of a resulting
  child.
         (b)  Consent by an unmarried man who intends to be the father
  of a resulting child in accordance with this section must be in a
  record signed by the man and the unmarried woman and kept by a
  licensed physician.
         SECTION 41.  Subsection (a), Section 160.704, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Consent by a married woman to assisted reproduction must
  be in a record signed by the woman and her husband and kept by a
  licensed physician. This requirement does not apply to the
  donation of eggs by a married woman for assisted reproduction by
  another woman.
         SECTION 42.  Section 160.706, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 160.706.  EFFECT OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE. (a)  If a
  marriage is dissolved before the placement of eggs, sperm, or
  embryos, the former spouse is not a parent of the resulting child
  unless the former spouse consented in a record kept by a licensed
  physician that if assisted reproduction were to occur after a
  divorce the former spouse would be a parent of the child.
         (b)  The consent of a former spouse to assisted reproduction
  may be withdrawn by that individual in a record kept by a licensed
  physician at any time before the placement of eggs, sperm, or
  embryos.
         SECTION 43.  Section 160.707, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 160.707.  PARENTAL STATUS OF DECEASED SPOUSE. If a
  spouse dies before the placement of eggs, sperm, or embryos, the
  deceased spouse is not a parent of the resulting child unless the
  deceased spouse consented in a record kept by a licensed physician
  that if assisted reproduction were to occur after death the
  deceased spouse would be a parent of the child.
         SECTION 44.  Section 161.206, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  An order rendered under this section must include a
  finding that:
               (1)  a request for identification of a court of
  continuing, exclusive jurisdiction has been made as required by
  Section 155.101; and
               (2)  all parties entitled to notice, including the
  Title IV-D agency, have been notified.
         SECTION 45.  Subsection (b), Section 231.006, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A child support obligor or business entity ineligible to
  receive payments under Subsection (a) [or a child support obligor
  ineligible to receive payments under Subsection (a-1)] remains
  ineligible until:
               (1)  all arrearages have been paid;
               (2)  the obligor is in compliance with a written
  repayment agreement or court order as to any existing delinquency;
  or
               (3)  the court of continuing jurisdiction over the
  child support order has granted the obligor an exemption from
  Subsection (a) as part of a court-supervised effort to improve
  earnings and child support payments.
         SECTION 46.  The heading to Section 231.012, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 231.012.  CHILD SUPPORT [COUNTY ADVISORY] WORK GROUP.
         SECTION 47.  Subsections (a), (b), and (c), Section 231.012,
  Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The director of the Title IV-D agency may convene [shall
  establish] a [county advisory] work group representing public and
  private entities with an interest in child support enforcement in
  this state to work with [assist] the director [Title IV-D agency] in
  developing strategies to improve [and changing] child support
  enforcement in this state [programs that affect counties. The work
  group shall consist of at least one of each of the following:
               [(1)  county judge;
               [(2)  county commissioner;
               [(3)  district clerk;
               [(4)  domestic relations officer;
               [(5)  associate judge for Title IV-D cases; and
               [(6)  district court judge].
         (b)  The director of the Title IV-D agency shall appoint the
  members of the work group after consulting with appropriate public
  and private entities [the relevant professional or trade
  associations of the professions that are represented on the work
  group. The director of the Title IV-D agency shall determine the
  number of members of the work group and shall designate the
  presiding officer of the group].
         (c)  The work group shall meet as convened by the director of
  the Title IV-D agency and consult with[:
               [(1)  advise] the director on matters relating to [of
  the Title IV-D agency of the impact on counties that a proposed]
  child support enforcement in this state, including the delivery of
  Title IV-D services [program or a change in a program may have;
               [(2)     establish a state-county child support
  improvement plan;
               [(3)     advise the Title IV-D agency on the operation of
  the state disbursement unit;
               [(4)     plan for monetary incentives for county
  partnership programs;
               [(5)     expand the number of agreements with counties for
  enforcement services; and
               [(6)     work with relevant statewide associations on a
  model partnership agreement].
         SECTION 48.  Section 231.103, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as
  follows:
         (f)  The state disbursement unit established and operated by
  the Title IV-D agency under Chapter 234 may collect a monthly
  service fee of $3 in each case in which [deducted from] support
  payments are processed through the unit [in a case for which the
  Title IV-D agency is not providing services].
         (g-1)  A fee authorized under this section for providing
  child support enforcement services is part of the child support
  obligation if the obligor is responsible for the fee, and may be
  enforced against the obligor through any method available for the
  enforcement of child support, including contempt.
         SECTION 49.  Section 231.202, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 231.202.  AUTHORIZED COSTS AND FEES IN TITLE IV-D
  CASES.  In a Title IV-D case filed under this title, including a
  case filed under Chapter 159, the Title IV-D agency shall pay:
               (1)  filing fees and fees for issuance and service of
  process as provided by Chapter 110 of this code and by Sections
  51.317, 51.318(b)(2), and 51.319(2), Government Code;
               (2)  fees for transfer as provided by Chapter 110;
               (3)  fees for the issuance and delivery of orders and
  writs of income withholding in the amounts provided by Chapter 110;
               (4)  the fee that sheriffs and constables are
  authorized to charge for serving process under Section 118.131,
  Local Government Code, for each item of process to each individual
  on whom service is required, including service by certified or
  registered mail, to be paid to a sheriff, constable, or clerk
  whenever service of process is required; [and]
               (5)  the fee for filing an administrative writ of
  withholding under Section 158.503(d); and
               (6)  the fee for issuance of a subpoena as provided by
  Section 51.318(b)(1), Government Code.
         SECTION 50.  Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3), Section
  232.001, Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "License" means a license, certificate,
  registration, permit, or other authorization that:
                     (A)  is issued by a licensing authority;
                     (B)  is subject before expiration to renewal, 
  suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or termination by a [the
  issuing] licensing authority; and
                     (C)  a person must obtain to:
                           (i)  practice or engage in a particular
  business, occupation, or profession;
                           (ii)  operate a motor vehicle on a public
  highway in this state; or
                           (iii)  engage in any other regulated
  activity, including hunting, fishing, or other recreational
  activity for which a license or permit is required.
               (2)  "Licensing authority" means a department,
  commission, board, office, or other agency of the state or a
  political subdivision of the state that issues or renews a license
  or that otherwise has authority to suspend or refuse to renew a
  license.
               (3)  "Order suspending license" means an order issued
  by the Title IV-D agency or a court directing a licensing authority
  to suspend or refuse to renew a license.
         SECTION 51.  Section 232.002, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 232.002.  LICENSING AUTHORITIES SUBJECT TO CHAPTER.  
  Unless otherwise restricted or exempted, all [The following are]
  licensing authorities are subject to this chapter[:
               [(1)  Department of Agriculture;
               [(2)  Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
               [(3)     Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification
  Board;
               [(4)  Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;
               [(5)  Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
               [(6)  Comptroller of Public Accounts;
               [(7)  Court Reporters Certification Board;
               [(8)  State Board of Dental Examiners;
               [(9)  Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians;
               [(10)  Texas Funeral Service Commission;
               [(11)  Department of State Health Services;
               [(12)  Department of Aging and Disability Services;
               [(13)  Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying;
               [(14)  Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation;
               [(15)     Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and
  Family Therapists;
               [(16)  Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
               [(17)  Midwifery Board;
               [(18)  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
               [(19)  Board of Nurse Examiners;
               [(20)  Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
               [(21)  Texas Optometry Board;
               [(22)  Parks and Wildlife Department;
               [(23)  Texas State Board of Examiners of Perfusionists;
               [(24)  Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
               [(25)  Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners;
               [(26)  Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners;
               [(27)     Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
  Examiners;
               [(28)  Polygraph Examiners Board;
               [(29)  Texas Private Security Board;
               [(30)     Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional
  Counselors;
               [(31)  Texas Board of Professional Engineers;
               [(32)  Department of Family and Protective Services;
               [(33)  Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists;
               [(34)  Texas State Board of Public Accountancy;
               [(35)     Department of Public Safety of the State of
  Texas;
               [(36)  Public Utility Commission of Texas;
               [(37)  Railroad Commission of Texas;
               [(38)  Texas Real Estate Commission;
               [(39)  State Bar of Texas;
               [(40)  Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners;
               [(41)     State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language
  Pathology and Audiology;
               [(42)  Texas Structural Pest Control Board;
               [(43)  Board of Tax Professional Examiners;
               [(44)  Secretary of State;
               [(45)  Supreme Court of Texas;
               [(46)  Texas Transportation Commission;
               [(47)  State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners;
               [(48)  Texas Ethics Commission;
               [(49)  Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers;
               [(50)     State Committee of Examiners in the Fitting and
  Dispensing of Hearing Instruments;
               [(51)     Texas Board of Licensure for Professional
  Medical Physicists;
               [(52)  Texas Department of Insurance;
               [(53)  Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics;
               [(54)  savings and loan commissioner;
               [(55)  Texas Juvenile Probation Commission; and
               [(56)     Texas Lottery Commission under Chapter 466,
  Government Code].
         SECTION 52.  Chapter 232, Family Code, is amended by adding
  Section 232.0022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 232.0022.  SUSPENSION OR NONRENEWAL OF MOTOR VEHICLE
  REGISTRATION. (a)  The Texas Department of Transportation is the
  appropriate licensing authority for suspension or nonrenewal of a
  motor vehicle registration under this chapter.
         (b)  The suspension or nonrenewal of a motor vehicle
  registration under this chapter does not:
               (1)  encumber the title to the motor vehicle or
  otherwise affect the transfer of the title to the vehicle; or
               (2)  affect the sale, purchase, or registration of the
  motor vehicle by a person who holds a general distinguishing number
  issued under Chapter 503, Transportation Code.
         SECTION 53.  Subsection (a), Section 232.004, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A child support agency or obligee may file a petition to
  suspend, as provided by this chapter, a license of an obligor who
  has an arrearage equal to or greater than the total support due for
  three months [90 days] under a support order.
         SECTION 54.  Subsections (b) and (c), Section 232.006,
  Family Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notice under this section may be served:
               (1)  if the party has been ordered under Chapter 105 to
  provide the court and registry with the party's current mailing
  address, by mailing a copy of the notice to the respondent, together
  with a copy of the petition, by first class mail to the last mailing
  address of the respondent on file with the court and the state case
  registry; or
               (2)  as in civil cases generally.
         (c)  The notice must contain the following prominently
  displayed statement in boldfaced type, capital letters, or
  underlined:
         "AN ACTION TO SUSPEND ONE OR MORE LICENSES ISSUED TO YOU HAS
  BEEN FILED AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 232, TEXAS FAMILY CODE.  YOU MAY
  EMPLOY AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT YOU IN THIS ACTION.  IF YOU OR YOUR
  ATTORNEY DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING BEFORE THE 21ST DAY AFTER THE DATE
  OF SERVICE OF THIS NOTICE, AN ORDER SUSPENDING YOUR [OF] LICENSE
  [SUSPENSION] MAY BE RENDERED."
         SECTION 55.  Chapter 232, Family Code, is amended by adding
  Section 232.0135 to read as follows:
         Sec. 232.0135.  DENIAL OF LICENSE RENEWAL. (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 renewal of the license of the
  obligor.
         (b)  A licensing authority that receives the information
  described by Subsection (a) shall refuse to accept an application
  for renewal of 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 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 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 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 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.
         (e)  If an obligor enters into a repayment agreement with the
  child support agency under this section, the agency may incorporate
  the agreement in an order to be filed with and confirmed by the
  court in the manner provided for agreed orders under Chapter 233.
         (f)  In this section, "licensing authority" does not include
  the State Securities Board.
         SECTION 56.  Section 232.014, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 232.014.  FEE BY LICENSING AUTHORITY.  (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 renewal of license in an amount
  sufficient to recover the administrative costs incurred by the
  authority under this chapter.
         (b)  A fee collected by the Texas Department of
  Transportation or the Department of Public Safety shall be
  deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.
         SECTION 57.  Section 233.019, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A child support order issued by a tribunal of another
  state and filed with an agreed review order as an exhibit to the
  agreed review order shall be treated as a confirmed order without
  the necessity of registration under Subchapter G, Chapter 159.
         SECTION 58.  Subsection (c), Section 234.001, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The state disbursement unit shall:
               (1)  receive, maintain, and furnish records of child
  support payments in Title IV-D cases and other cases as authorized
  by law;
               (2)  forward child support payments as authorized by
  law;
               (3)  maintain records of child support payments 
  [payment records] made through the state disbursement unit; and
               (4)  make available to a local registry each day in a
  manner determined by the Title IV-D agency [with the assistance of
  the work group established under Section 234.003] the following
  information:
                     (A)  the cause number of the suit under which
  withholding is required;
                     (B)  the payor's name and social security number;
                     (C)  the payee's name and, if available, social
  security number;
                     (D)  the date the disbursement unit received the
  payment;
                     (E)  the amount of the payment; and
                     (F)  the instrument identification information.
         SECTION 59.  Section 234.006, Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 234.006.  RULEMAKING [EFFECTIVE DATE AND PROCEDURES].  
  The Title IV-D agency[, in cooperation with the work group
  established under Section 234.003,] may adopt rules in compliance
  with federal law for the operation of the state case registry and
  the state disbursement unit.
         SECTION 60.  Subsection (a), Section 234.008, Family Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Not [Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d), not]
  later than the second business day after the date the state
  disbursement unit receives a child support payment, the state
  disbursement unit shall distribute the payment to the Title IV-D
  agency or the obligee.
         SECTION 61.  Subchapter A, Chapter 234, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 234.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 234.012.  RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM STATE CASE
  REGISTRY. Unless prohibited by a court in accordance with Section
  105.006(c), the state case registry shall, on request and to the
  extent permitted by federal law, provide the information required
  under Sections 105.006 and 105.008 in any case included in the
  registry under Section 234.001(b) to:
               (1)  any party to the proceeding;
               (2)  an amicus attorney;
               (3)  an attorney ad litem;
               (4)  a friend of the court;
               (5)  a guardian ad litem;
               (6)  a domestic relations office;
               (7)  a prosecuting attorney or juvenile court acting in
  a proceeding under Title 3; or
               (8)  a governmental entity or court acting in a
  proceeding under Chapter 262.
         SECTION 62.  Subchapter B, Chapter 234, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 234.105 to read as follows:
         Sec. 234.105.  CIVIL PENALTY.  (a)  In addition to any other
  remedy provided by law, an employer who knowingly violates a
  procedure adopted under Section 234.104 for reporting employee
  information may be liable for a civil penalty as permitted by
  Section 453A(d) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
  Section 653a).
         (b)  The amount of the civil penalty may not exceed:
               (1)  $25 for each occurrence in which an employer fails
  to report an employee; or
               (2)  $500 for each occurrence in which the conduct
  described by Subdivision (1) is the result of a conspiracy between
  the employer and an employee to not supply a required report or to
  submit a false or incomplete report.
         (c)  The attorney general may sue to collect the civil
  penalty. A penalty collected under this section shall be deposited
  in a special fund in the state treasury.
         SECTION 63.  Subsections (a) and (d), Section 207.093, Labor
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commission shall withhold from the benefits payable
  to an individual that owes a child support obligation an amount
  equal to:
               (1)  any amount required to be withheld under legal
  process properly served on the commission;
               (2)  if Subdivision (1) does not apply, the amount
  determined under an agreement submitted to the commission under
  Section 454(19)(B)(i) [454(20)(B)(i)] of the Social Security Act
  (42 U.S.C. Section 654) by the state or local child support
  enforcement agency; or
               (3)  if neither Subdivision (1) or (2) applies, the
  amount the individual specifies to the commission to be withheld.
         (d)  In this section, "legal process" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 459(i)(5) [462(e)] of the Social Security Act
  (42 U.S.C. Section 659 [662]).
         SECTION 64.  Subdivision (9), Section 501.002,
  Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
               (9)  "Lien" means:
                     (A)  a lien provided for by the constitution or
  statute in a motor vehicle; [or]
                     (B)  a security interest, as defined by Section
  1.201, Business & Commerce Code, in a motor vehicle, other than an
  absolute title, created by any written security agreement, as
  defined by Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code, including a
  lease, conditional sales contract, deed of trust, chattel mortgage,
  trust receipt, or reservation of title; or
                     (C)  a child support lien under Chapter 157,
  Family Code.
         SECTION 65.  The following provisions of the Family Code are
  repealed:
               (1)  Subsection (a-1), Section 231.006;
               (2)  Section 231.011;
               (3)  Subsection (d), Section 231.103;
               (4)  Section 231.310;
               (5)  Subsections (c), (d), and (e), Section 234.008;
  and
               (6)  Chapter 235.
         SECTION 66.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act relating
  to a court order establishing paternity or the obligation to pay
  child support applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
  date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act relating to the
  modification or enforcement of a child support order rendered
  before the effective date of this Act applies only to a proceeding
  for modification or enforcement that is commenced on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A proceeding for modification or
  enforcement that is commenced before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding was
  commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         (c)  The change in law made by this Act by the enactment of
  Section 234.105, Family Code, applies only to a violation that
  occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. A violation that
  occurs before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date
  the violation occurred, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 67.  (a)  Subsection (f), Section 157.327, Family
  Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a financial institution
  that receives a notice of levy under that section on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A financial institution that receives a
  notice of levy under that section before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the notice of levy
  is received, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Section 158.506,
  Family Code, apply only to an administrative writ of withholding
  issued on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  administrative writ of withholding issued before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the
  administrative writ is issued, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         (c)  The changes in law made by this Act to Section 231.103,
  Family Code, apply only to fees that are incurred on or after the
  date that the rules adopted in accordance with that section take
  effect.
         SECTION 68.  Section 153.3161, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child
  relationship pending in a trial court on or filed on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 69.  Section 156.105, Family Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an action to modify an order in a suit
  affecting the parent-child relationship pending in a trial court on
  or filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 70.  The change in law made by this Act to Chapter
  160, Family Code, applies to a motion or other request for relief
  made in a parentage or paternity proceeding that is commenced on or
  after the effective date of this Act. A motion or other request for
  relief made in a parentage or paternity proceeding commenced before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at
  the time the proceeding was commenced, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 71.  In the event another Act of the 80th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, includes a provision adopting
  Section 153.015, Family Code, relating to electronic
  communications between a parent and a child, and that provision is
  not identical to Section 153.015, Family Code, as provided in this
  Act, the provision in this Act shall prevail and any such provision
  in any other Act that is not identical to the provision in this Act
  shall not become effective.
         SECTION 72.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 228 passed the Senate on
  March 14, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0;
  May 25, 2007, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2007, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 27, 2007, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 30,
  Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 228 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 143,
  Nays 0, one present not voting; May 26, 2007, House granted request
  of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 27, 2007, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor