�
�
�	By:�Hernandez�(Senate Sponsor - Gallegos)	H.B.�No.�4424
�	�������(In the Senate�-�Received from the House May�8,�2009;
�	May�8,�2009, read first time and referred to Committee on
�	Jurisprudence; May�22,�2009, reported adversely, with favorable
�	Committee Substitute by the following vote:��Yeas�5, Nays�0;
�	May�22,�2009, sent to printer.)
�
�	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B.�No.�4424	By:��Gallegos

�
�	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
�	AN ACT
�
�	relating to operations fees and child support service fees assessed
�	by domestic relations offices.
�	�������BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
�	�������SECTION�1.��Section 110.006, Family Code, is amended to read
�	as follows:
�	�������Sec.�110.006.��DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE OPERATIONS FEES AND
�	CHILD SUPPORT SERVICE FEES. (a) If an administering entity of a
�	domestic relations office adopts an initial operations fee under
�	Section 203.005(a)(1) [or an initial child support service fee
�	under Section 203.005(a)(2)], the clerk of the court shall:
�	�������������(1)��collect the operations fee at the time the
�	original suit, motion for modification, or motion for enforcement,
�	as applicable, is filed; and
�	�������������(2)��send the fee to the domestic relations office.
�	�������(b)��If an administering entity of a domestic relations
�	office adopts an initial child support service fee under Section
�	203.005(a)(2), the clerk of the court shall:
�	�������������(1)��collect the child support service fee at the time
�	the original suit is filed; and
�	�������������(2)��send the fee to the domestic relations office.
�	�������(c)��The fees described by Subsections (a) and (b) are not
�	filing fees for purposes of Section 110.002 or 110.003.
�	�������SECTION�2.��Section 203.005(a), Family Code, is amended to
�	read as follows:
�	�������(a)��The administering entity may authorize a domestic
�	relations office to assess and collect:
�	�������������(1)��an initial operations fee not to exceed $15 to be
�	paid to the domestic relations office on each [the] filing of an
�	original [a] suit, motion for modification, or motion for
�	enforcement;
�	�������������(2)��in a county that has a child support enforcement
�	cooperative agreement with the Title IV-D agency, an initial child
�	support service fee not to exceed $36 to be paid to the domestic
�	relations office on the filing of an original [a] suit;
�	�������������(3)��a reasonable application fee to be paid by an
�	applicant requesting services from the office;
�	�������������(4)��a reasonable attorney's fee and court costs
�	incurred or ordered by the court;
�	�������������(5)��a monthly service fee not to exceed $3 to be paid
�	annually in advance by a managing conservator and possessory
�	conservator for whom the domestic relations office provides child
�	support services;
�	�������������(6)��community supervision fees as provided by Chapter
�	157 if community supervision officers are employed by the domestic
�	relations office;
�	�������������(7)��a reasonable fee for preparation of a
�	court-ordered social study;
�	�������������(8)��in a county that provides visitation services
�	under Sections 153.014 and 203.004 a reasonable fee to be paid to
�	the domestic relations office at the time the visitation services
�	are provided;
�	�������������(9)��a fee to reimburse the domestic relations office
�	for a fee required to be paid under Section 158.503(d) for filing an
�	administrative writ of withholding;
�	�������������(10)��a reasonable fee for parenting coordinator
�	services; and
�	�������������(11)��a reasonable fee for alternative dispute
�	resolution services.
�	�������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, 2009.
�
�	* * * * *