By: Hunter H.B. No. 3996
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring the state disbursement unit to disburse
payments to obligees electronically.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 234.010, Family Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 234.010. DIRECT DEPOSIT OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
(a) The state disbursement unit authorized under this chapter
shall [may] transmit a child support payment to an obligee by:
(1) electronic funds transfer if the obligee maintains
an account with a financial institution; or
(2) electronic benefits transfer, such as a debit
card, to an account established by the Title IV-D agency or the
state disbursement unit.
(b) The work group convened under this subchapter may
develop a plan to assist an obligee who does not have an account
with a financial institution to obtain an account.
(c) [The work group may determine whether it is feasible and
cost-effective for the state to administer an electronic benefits
transfer system for child support obligees and may recommend
implementation of such a system to the Title IV-D agency.]
[(d) After receiving any recommendations by the work group
under Subsection (c), the Title IV-D agency or the vendor selected
by the Title IV-D agency to operate the state disbursement unit may
provide for electronic benefits transfer, if the request for
proposals issued by the Title IV-D agency and any contract
resulting from the selection of a vendor to provide the services
specified in the request for proposals provides for electronic
benefits transfer.]
[(e)] The work group may recommend and the Title IV-D agency
may establish procedures to implement this section.
(d) For payments under Subsection (a)(2) [(f) The Title
IV-D agency, after receiving the recommendation of the work group,
may require an obligee to receive payments by direct deposit to the
obligee's bank account or] by electronic benefits transfer, [to] an
account established by the Title IV-D agency or the state
disbursement unit must be [if the account is] established at no cost
to the obligee.
SECTION 2. Section 234.011, Family Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.