| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship and the calculation and enforcement of child support.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
SB 286 would make certain changes to child support. It would require a person ordered to pay alimony and child support to send the alimony to the state disbursement unit. A court, when considering the intentional unemployment or underemployment of a child support obligor, would have to consider various background circumstances such as their assets, residence, job skills, education, record of seeking work, and whether there are employers willing to hire the obligor. Incarceration could not be considered intentional unemployment; incarceration for 180 days or longer would be considered grounds for modifying a child support order. SB 286 would also create a lowered child support schedule for a person whose monthly income is $1,000 or less. Medical and dental support to the child would become separate calculations to be included in cumulative money judgments.
Texas Action is neutral on SB 286.