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89(R) HB 557 - Engrossed version - Bill Text
89R24536 AMF-D
By: Jones of Harris, et al.
H.B. No. 557
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by
contempt and the accrual of interest on certain child support
arrearages.
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:
(1) either:
(A)
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; or
(B)
evidence satisfactory to the court that the
respondent has a plan for becoming current in the payment of child
support as ordered by the court; and
(2)
evidence satisfactory to the court showing that
the respondent's failure to make timely payments was due to an error
made by a third party or other circumstances outside the
respondent's control.
SECTION 2. Section 157.265, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g)
Notwithstanding Subsection (b), interest does not
accrue on child support arrearages that have been confirmed and
reduced to a money judgment if the court rendering the judgment
finds that the failure by a respondent to make timely payments
resulting in the arrearages was due to an error made by a third
party or other circumstances outside the respondent's control.
SECTION 3. (a) Section 157.162(d), Family Code, as added by
this Act, applies only 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.
(b) Section 157.265(g), Family Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to a money judgment for child support arrearages
rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. A money
judgment for child support arrearages rendered before the effective
date of this Act 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.