Title FA, Family Code

Sec. 233.025. EFFECT OF REQUEST FOR HEARING ON NONAGREED ORDER; PLEADING. (a) A request for hearing or an order setting a hearing on confirmation of a nonagreed child support review order stays confirmation of the order pending the hearing. (b) At a hearing on confirmation, any i…

Sec. 233.026. TIME FOR COURT HEARING. (a) When a timely request for a court hearing has been filed as provided by Section 233.023, the court shall hold a hearing on the confirmation of a child support review order that has not been agreed to by the parties not later than the 30th…

Sec. 233.027. NONAGREED ORDER AFTER HEARING. (a) After the hearing on the confirmation of a nonagreed child support review order, the court shall: (1) if the court finds that the nonagreed order should be confirmed, immediately sign the nonagreed order and enter the order as a fi…

Sec. 233.0271. CONFIRMATION OF NONAGREED ORDER WITHOUT HEARING. (a) If a request for hearing has not been timely received, the court shall confirm and sign a nonagreed child support review order not later than the 30th day after the date the petition for confirmation was delivere…

Sec. 233.028. SPECIAL CHILD SUPPORT REVIEW PROCEDURES RELATING TO ESTABLISHMENT OF PARENTAGE. (a) If the parentage of a child has not been established, the notice of child support review delivered to the parties must include an allegation that the recipient is a biological parent…

Sec. 233.029. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE LAW NOT APPLICABLE. The child support review process under this chapter is not governed by Chapter 2001, Government Code. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 341, Sec. 2.04…

Sec. 234.001. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF STATE CASE REGISTRY AND STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT. (a) The Title IV-D agency shall establish and operate a state case registry and state disbursement unit meeting the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Sections 654a(e) and 654b and this subchapte…

Sec. 234.0015. CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. For purposes of services provided by the state disbursement unit under this subchapter, a child support payment includes child support, medical support, and dental support ordered under Chapter 154. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1…

Sec. 234.002. INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR CHILD SUPPORT, MEDICAL SUPPORT, AND DENTAL SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT. The statewide integrated system for child support, medical support, and dental support enforcement under Chapter 231 shall be part of the state case registry and state disbursement…

Sec. 234.004. CONTRACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. (a) The Title IV-D agency may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements as necessary to establish and operate the state case registry and state disbursement unit authorized under this subchapter. (b) To the extent funds ar…

Sec. 234.006. RULEMAKING. The Title IV-D agency may adopt rules in compliance with federal law for the operation of the state case registry and the state disbursement unit. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 68, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1…

Sec. 234.007. NOTICE OF PLACE OF PAYMENT. (a) A court that orders a party to pay child support under a temporary or final order shall order that all child support payments be paid through the state disbursement unit, including any child support that the court orders an employer t…

Sec. 234.008. DEPOSIT, DISTRIBUTION, AND ISSUANCE OF PAYMENTS. (a) Not later than the second business day after the date the state disbursement unit receives a child support payment, the state disbursement unit shall distribute the payment to the Title IV-D agency or the obligee.…

Sec. 234.009. OFFICIAL CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT RECORD. (a) The record of child support payments maintained by a local registry is the official record of a payment received directly by the local registry. (b) The record of child support payments maintained by the state disbursement …

Sec. 234.0091. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT RECORD. (a) On request, the state disbursement unit shall provide to an obligor or obligee a copy of the record of child support payments maintained by the unit. The record must include the amounts and dates of all pay…

Sec. 234.010. DIRECT DEPOSIT AND ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. (a) The state disbursement unit authorized under this chapter may make a direct deposit of a child support payment to an obligee by electronic funds transfer into an account with a financial …

Sec. 234.012. RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM STATE CASE REGISTRY. Unless prohibited by a court in accordance with Section 105.006(c), the state case registry shall, on request under Section 231.301 and to the extent permitted by federal law, provide the information required under Se…

Sec. 234.013. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS. The state disbursement unit shall administer maintenance payments ordered under Section 8.062 in the same manner as child support payments under this subchapter. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 152 (S.B. 870), …

Sec. 234.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Employee" means an individual who is an employee within the meaning of Chapter 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 3401(c)) or an independent contractor as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The term…

Sec. 234.102. OPERATION OF NEW HIRE DIRECTORY. In cooperation with the Texas Workforce Commission, the Title IV-D agency shall develop and operate a state directory to which employers in the state shall report each newly hired or rehired employee in accordance with the requiremen…

Sec. 234.103. CONTRACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The Title IV-D agency may enter into cooperative agreements and contracts as necessary to create and operate the directory authorized under this subchapter. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 94, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Am…

Sec. 234.104. PROCEDURES. The Title IV-D agency by rule shall establish procedures for reporting employee information and for operating a state directory of new hires meeting the requirements of federal law. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 94, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Ame…

Sec. 234.105. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, an employer who knowingly violates a procedure adopted under Section 234.104 for reporting employee information may be liable for a civil penalty as permitted by Section 453A(d) of the federal Socia…

Sec. 261.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions by a person: (A) mental or emotional injury to a child that results in an observable and material impairment in the child's growth, development, or psychological functioning; (B) caus…

Sec. 261.002. CENTRAL REGISTRY. (a) The department shall establish and maintain a central registry of the names of individuals found by the department to have abused or neglected a child. (b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to carry out this section. The ru…

Sec. 261.003. APPLICATION TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOL FOR DEAF OR SCHOOL FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. This chapter applies to the investigation of a report of abuse or neglect of a student, without regard to the age of the student, in the Texas School for the Deaf or the Texas Scho…

Sec. 261.004. TRACKING OF RECURRENCE OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT REPORTS. (a) The department shall collect and monitor data regarding repeated reports of abuse or neglect: (1) involving the same child, including reports of abuse or neglect of the child made while the child resided …

Sec. 261.005. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR COMMISSION. Unless otherwise provided by a provision of this chapter, in this chapter: (1) a reference to the executive commissioner or the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission means the commission…

Sec. 261.101. PERSONS REQUIRED TO REPORT; TIME TO REPORT. (a) A person having reasonable cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report as provided by this subchapt…

Sec. 261.102. MATTERS TO BE REPORTED. A report should reflect the reporter's belief that a child has been or may be abused or neglected or has died of abuse or neglect. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, S…

Sec. 261.103. REPORT MADE TO APPROPRIATE AGENCY. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) and Section 261.405, a report shall be made to: (1) a law enforcement agency; (2) the department; or (3) the state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers the facili…

Sec. 261.104. CONTENTS OF REPORT; NOTICE. (a) The individual making a report shall identify, if known: (1) the name and address of the child; (2) the name and address of the person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child; (3) the facts that caused the individua…

Sec. 261.105. REFERRAL OF REPORT BY DEPARTMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. (a) All reports received by a law enforcement agency that allege abuse or neglect by a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare shall be referred immediately to the department. (b) The department…

Sec. 261.1055. NOTIFICATION OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. (a) A district attorney may inform the department that the district attorney wishes to receive notification of some or all reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children who were in the county at the time the report was made o…

Sec. 261.106. IMMUNITIES. (a) A person acting in good faith who reports or assists in the investigation of a report of alleged child abuse or neglect or who testifies or otherwise participates in a judicial proceeding arising from a report, petition, or investigation of alleged c…

Sec. 261.107. FALSE REPORT; CRIMINAL PENALTY; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this chapter that is false. An offense under this subsection is a state jail felony unless it is shown o…

Sec. 261.108. FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS AGAINST PERSON REPORTING. (a) In this section: (1) "Claim" means an action or claim by a party, including a plaintiff, counterclaimant, cross-claimant, or third-party plaintiff, requesting recovery of damages. (2) "Defendant" means a party against w…

Sec. 261.109. FAILURE TO REPORT; PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person is required to make a report under Section 261.101(a) and knowingly fails to make a report as provided in this chapter. (a-1) A person who is a professional as defined by Section 261.101(b) co…

Sec. 261.110. EMPLOYER RETALIATION PROHIBITED. (a) In this section: (1) "Adverse employment action" means an action that affects an employee's compensation, promotion, transfer, work assignment, or performance evaluation, or any other employment action that would dissuade a reaso…

Sec. 261.111. REFUSAL OF PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF CHILD. (a) In this section, "psychotropic medication" has the meaning assigned by Section 266.001. (b) The refusal of a parent, guardian, or managing or possessory conservator of a child to administer or consent t…

Sec. 261.201. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. (a) Except as provided by Section 261.203, the following information is confidential, is not subject to public release under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may be disclosed only for purposes consistent with this code…

Sec. 261.202. PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION. In a proceeding regarding the abuse or neglect of a child, evidence may not be excluded on the ground of privileged communication except in the case of communications between an attorney and client. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Se…

Sec. 261.203. INFORMATION RELATING TO CHILD FATALITY. (a) Not later than the fifth day after the date the department receives a request for information about a child fatality with respect to which the department is conducting an investigation of alleged abuse or neglect, the depa…

Sec. 261.204. ANNUAL CHILD FATALITY REPORT. (a) Not later than March 1 of each year, the department shall publish an aggregated report using information compiled from each child fatality investigation for which the department made a finding regarding abuse or neglect, including c…

Sec. 261.301. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT. (a) With assistance from the appropriate law enforcement agency as provided by this section, the department shall make a prompt and thorough investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect allegedly committed by a person responsible for …

Sec. 261.3011. JOINT INVESTIGATION GUIDELINES AND TRAINING. (a) The department shall, in consultation with the appropriate law enforcement agencies, develop guidelines and protocols for joint investigations by the department and the law enforcement agency under Section 261.301. T…