Relating to court-ordered financial support by parents of an adult with a medically determinable disability.
Impact
The legislation is designed to create a framework for courts to follow when determining the level of financial support required for adults with disabilities. Courts can order financial support until the individual reaches 21 years of age or for an indefinite period if the adult is older and still requires substantial care and personal supervision. This change will provide clarity in legal proceedings concerning financial support and enable judges to consider various factors such as medical evidence and the needs of the adult when making determinations.
Summary
House Bill 4509 seeks to amend the Family Code to provide specific provisions for court-ordered financial support for adults with medically determinable disabilities. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of parents in providing financial support to their adult children who are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to physical or mental impairments. The new definitions and amendments largely focus on extending the financial support provisions currently applicable to minors to adults suffering from such disabilities, ensuring that they receive necessary support even past the age of 18.
Contention
One notable point of discussion around HB 4509 involves the implications for parental rights and responsibilities. The introduction of terms such as 'substantial care' and 'personal supervision' raises questions about how these will be interpreted in court and what evidence will be required to establish such needs. Additionally, while the bill aims to support adults with disabilities, concerns have been raised about the potential burden it may place on parents, especially in situations where financial support needs continually evolve. The legislation's provisions for utilizing special needs trusts also invite further scrutiny into how financial support will be managed and the accessibility of such trusts to families.
Relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including the payment and enforcement of support ordered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
Relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including the payment and enforcement of support ordered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
Relating to certain Title IV-D cases and other cases with respect to child support or Title IV-D agency services and to practices and procedures for the operation of the Title IV-D agency.
Relating to certain Title IV-D cases and other cases with respect to child support or Title IV-D agency services and to practices and procedures for the operation of the Title IV-D agency.
Relating to emancipation and extended foster care for certain older youth and young adults within the jurisdiction of court in a suit affecting the parent child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to methods for the recovery of system restoration costs incurred by electric utilities following hurricanes, tropical storms, ice or snow storms, floods, and other weather-related events and natural disasters.
Relating to methods for the recovery of system restoration costs incurred by electric utilities following hurricanes, tropical storms, ice or snow storms, floods, and other weather-related events and natural disasters.
Relating to the procedure for determining that certain land is no longer eligible for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space land.
Relating to the eligibility of certain land for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes on the basis of its productivity value and the consequences for those purposes of a change of use or sale of the land.
Relating to public education and public school finance, including the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators, contributions by a public school to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and an education savings account program for certain children.