| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 87R16573 MLH-F | |
| 2 | 1 | By: Neave H.B. No. 3962 | |
| 3 | - | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3962: | |
| 4 | - | By: Talarico C.S.H.B. No. 3962 | |
| 5 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 4 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 8 | 5 | AN ACT | |
| 9 | 6 | relating to the powers and duties of a domestic relations office. | |
| 10 | 7 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 11 | 8 | SECTION 1. Section 203.004(a), Family Code, is amended to | |
| 12 | 9 | read as follows: | |
| 13 | - | (a) A domestic relations office may: | |
| 10 | + | Sec. 203.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) A domestic relations | |
| 11 | + | office may: | |
| 14 | 12 | (1) collect and disburse child support payments that | |
| 15 | 13 | are ordered by a court to be paid through a domestic relations | |
| 16 | 14 | registry; | |
| 17 | 15 | (2) maintain records of payments and disbursements | |
| 18 | 16 | made under Subdivision (1); | |
| 19 | 17 | (3) file a suit under this title, including a suit to: | |
| 20 | 18 | (A) establish paternity; and | |
| 21 | - | (B) | |
| 22 | - | child support or for possession of and access to a child; | |
| 23 | - | | |
| 24 | - | order; | |
| 19 | + | (B) enforce, clarify or modify a court order for | |
| 20 | + | child support or for possession of and access to a child; and | |
| 21 | + | (C) modify or clarify an existing child support | |
| 22 | + | order; | |
| 25 | 23 | (4) provide an informal forum in which alternative | |
| 26 | 24 | dispute resolution is used to resolve disputes under this code; | |
| 27 | 25 | (5) prepare a court-ordered child custody evaluation | |
| 28 | 26 | or adoption evaluation under Chapter 107; | |
| 29 | 27 | (6) represent a child as an amicus attorney, an | |
| 30 | 28 | attorney ad litem, or a guardian ad litem in a suit in which: | |
| 31 | 29 | (A) termination of the parent-child relationship | |
| 32 | 30 | is sought; or | |
| 33 | 31 | (B) conservatorship of or access to a child is | |
| 34 | 32 | contested; | |
| 35 | 33 | (7) serve as a friend of the court; | |
| 36 | 34 | (8) provide predivorce counseling ordered by a court; | |
| 37 | 35 | (9) provide community supervision services under | |
| 38 | 36 | Chapter 157; | |
| 39 | 37 | (10) provide information to assist a party in | |
| 40 | 38 | understanding, complying with, or enforcing the party's duties and | |
| 41 | - | obligations under this | |
| 39 | + | obligations under this CodeSubdivision (3); | |
| 42 | 40 | (11) provide, directly or through a contract, | |
| 43 | 41 | visitation services, including supervision of court-ordered | |
| 44 | 42 | visitation, visitation exchange, or other similar services; | |
| 45 | 43 | (12) issue an administrative writ of withholding under | |
| 46 | 44 | Subchapter F, Chapter 158; and | |
| 47 | - | (13) provide parenting | |
| 45 | + | (13) provide parenting coordination services under | |
| 48 | 46 | Chapter 153. | |
| 49 | 47 | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |