88R1945 MLH-F
By: Dutton H.B. No. 2582
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a report on a proposed income shares child support model
for this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Income shares child support model" means an
allocation of child support based on the concept that the child
should receive the same proportion of parental income that the
child would have received if the parents lived together.
(2) "Title IV-D agency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 101.033, Family Code.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2024, the Title IV-D agency
shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and the legislature a written report on the income shares child
support model as provided by this section.
(c) The report required under this section must include:
(1) proposed legislation for consideration by the 89th
Legislature, Regular Session, to reform the state's child support
system by employing, in whole or in part, the income shares child
support model; and
(2) a recommended timetable for an orderly transition
to the system proposed in the legislation described by Subdivision
(1) of this subsection that includes sufficient time to:
(A) perform economic analyses related to the
proposed system;
(B) prepare basic support guideline tables;
(C) develop and implement forms;
(D) develop and implement computational aids;
and
(E) ensure preparation can be made by child
support system participants who rely on existing child support
guidelines to determine the amount of child support obligations.
(d) The director of the Title IV-D agency shall convene a
work group under Section 231.012, Family Code, to assist with
developing the report required under this section. The work group
must include child support system participants who rely on existing
child support guidelines to determine the amount of child support
obligations.
(e) Members of the work group described by Subsection (d) of
this section may assist the Title IV-D agency by:
(1) advising the agency of public policy objectives to
be achieved by the proposed system;
(2) identifying:
(A) experts who can assist with developing the
report;
(B) appropriate economic analyses to be
performed;
(C) methods for addressing commonly-encountered
situations in the child support system;
(D) needed changes to the Family Code and other
statutes to enact an income shares child support model; and
(E) methods for training courts, lawyers, agency
personnel, litigants, and other system participants on the changes
in law that would be made if the proposed legislation included in
the report is enacted; and
(3) determining an appropriate transition schedule.
SECTION 2. 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, 2023.