| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 7 | | relating to the powers and duties of a domestic relations office. |
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| 6 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 7 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 203.004(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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| 8 | 10 | | read as follows: |
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| 9 | 11 | | Sec. 203.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) A domestic relations |
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| 10 | 12 | | office may: |
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| 11 | 13 | | (1) collect and disburse child support payments that |
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| 12 | 14 | | are ordered by a court to be paid through a domestic relations |
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| 13 | 15 | | registry; |
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| 14 | 16 | | (2) maintain records of payments and disbursements |
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| 15 | 17 | | made under Subdivision (1); |
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| 16 | 18 | | (3) file a suit under this title, including a suit to: |
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| 17 | 19 | | (A) establish paternity; and |
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| 18 | 20 | | (B) enforce, clarify or modify a court order for |
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| 19 | 21 | | child support or for possession of and access to a child; [and |
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| 20 | 22 | | [(C) modify or clarify an existing child support |
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| 21 | 23 | | order;] |
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| 22 | 24 | | (4) provide an informal forum in which alternative |
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| 23 | 25 | | dispute resolution is used to resolve disputes under this code; |
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| 24 | 26 | | (5) prepare a court-ordered child custody evaluation |
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| 25 | 27 | | or adoption evaluation under Chapter 107; |
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| 26 | 28 | | (6) represent a child as an amicus attorney, an |
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| 27 | 29 | | attorney ad litem, or a guardian ad litem in a suit in which: |
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| 28 | 30 | | (A) termination of the parent-child relationship |
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| 29 | 31 | | is sought; or |
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| 30 | 32 | | (B) conservatorship of or access to a child is |
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| 31 | 33 | | contested; |
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| 32 | 34 | | (7) serve as a friend of the court; |
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| 33 | 35 | | (8) provide predivorce counseling ordered by a court; |
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| 34 | 36 | | (9) provide community supervision services under |
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| 35 | 37 | | Chapter 157; |
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| 36 | 38 | | (10) provide information to assist a party in |
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| 37 | 39 | | understanding, complying with, or enforcing the party's duties and |
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| 38 | 40 | | obligations under this code [Subdivision (3)]; |
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| 39 | 41 | | (11) provide, directly or through a contract, |
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| 40 | 42 | | visitation services, including supervision of court-ordered |
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| 41 | 43 | | visitation, visitation exchange, or other similar services; |
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| 42 | 44 | | (12) issue an administrative writ of withholding under |
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| 43 | 45 | | Subchapter F, Chapter 158; and |
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| 44 | 46 | | (13) provide parenting coordinator services under |
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| 45 | 47 | | Chapter 153. |
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| 46 | 48 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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| 47 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 48 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 49 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 567 passed the Senate on |
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| 50 | | - | April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 51 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 53 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 567 passed the House on |
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| 54 | | - | May 4, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, two present |
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| 55 | | - | not voting. |
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| 56 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 57 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 58 | | - | Approved: |
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| 59 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 60 | | - | Date |
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| 61 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 62 | | - | Governor |
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