TITLE administration

Part III. Office of the Attorney General

Chapter 55. Child Support Enforcement

The Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division, proposes the repeal of §§55.111- 55.114, 55.116-55.118 and simultaneously proposes new §§55.111, 55.112, 55.116-55.118 concerning child support. The proposed repeals are necessary due to the federal requirement to use one mandated form. The new sections will replace the current forms.

Section 55.111, Notice of Application For Judicial Writ of Withholding replaces Notice of Delinquency.

The Notice of Application for Judicial Writ of Withholding may be used in IV-D or non-IV-D cases, if there is a delinquency equal to one month's support or income withholding was not previously ordered.

Section 55.112, Motion to Stay, replaces Motion to Stay Issuance and Delivery of Writ of Income Withholding.

The Motion to Stay is filed by the child support obligor, and prohibits the clerk of the court from delivering the judicial writ of withholding to any employer of the obligor before a hearing is held.

Section 55.113,Writ of Income Withholding (to Employer) and To Request Issuance of Writ of Income Withholding forms are deleted.

The functions of these forms have been included in §55.118, Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support.

Section 55.114, Revised Writ of Withholding and the Request for Issuance of Revised Writ of Income Withholding forms are deleted.

The functions of these forms have been included in §55.116, Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support (Administrative Writ of Withholding) and §55.118, Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support.

Section 55.116, Notice of Administrative Writ of Withholding and the Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support replaces Motion and Affidavit to Withdraw Writ of Income Withholding.

These forms are used by the Title IV-D agency for administrative withholding.

Section 55.117, Request for Issuance of Order replaces Notice to Terminate Writ of Income Withholding and Request for Issuance of Notice to Terminate Writ of Income Withholding.

This form is used to request issuance of the Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support.

Section 55.118, Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support replaces Employer's Order To Withhold Earnings for Child Support, Request for Issuance of Order, Writ of Income Withholding (to Employer), and To Request Issuance of Writ of Income Withholding.

This document is federally mandated for use in IV-D and non IV-D cases and may be used as a judicial withholding document, an original withholding document, amended withholding document, or to terminate withholding.

Howard G. Baldwin, Deputy Attorney General for Child Support, has determined that for the first five years these sections as proposed are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of any replacement in these sections.

Mr. Baldwin has also determined that each year of the first five years the sections are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of replacing or deleting these forms is more standardized and efficient income withholding. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with these sections as proposed.

Comments may be submitted to Kathy Shafer, Child Support Division, General Counsel Section, Office of the Attorney General, (physical address) 5500 East Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78741, or (mailing address) P.O. Box 12017, mail code 039, Austin, Texas, 78722-2017.

Subchapter D. Forms for Child Support Enforcement

1 TAC §§55.111-55.114, 55.116-55.118

(Editor's note: The text of the following sections proposed for repeal will not be published. The sections may be examined in the offices of the Office of the Attorney General or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The repeals are proposed under the Texas Family Code, Chapter 158, pursuant to the September 1, 1997, statutory changes.

The Texas Family Code is affected by 42 USC 652(a)(11), and 42 USC 654(9)(E).

§55.111. Form for Notice of Delinquency.

§55.112. Form for Motion to Stay Issuance and Delivery of Writ of Income Withholding.

§55.113. Forms for Writ of Income Withholding (to Employer) and To Request Issuance of Writ of Income Withholding.

§55.114. Forms for Revised Writ of Income Withholding and for Request for Issuance of Revised Writ of Income Withholding.

§55.116. Form for Motion and Affidavit To Withdraw Writ of Income Withholding.

§55.117. Forms for Notice To Terminate Writ of Income Withholding and for Request for Issuance of Notice To Terminate Writ of Income Withholding.

§55.118. Forms for Employer's Order To Withhold Earnings for Child Support and for Request for Issuance of Order.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on July 2, 1999.

TRD-9903950

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 15, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-2110


1 TAC §§55.111, 55.112, 55.116, 55.117, 55.118

The new sections are proposed under the Texas Family Code, Chapter 158, pursuant to the September 1, 1999, statutory changes.

The Texas Family Code is affected by 42 USC 652(a)(11), and 42 USC 654(9)(E).

§55.111. Notice of Application For Judicial Writ of Withholding.

The following form is to be used in IV-D or non-IV-D cases, if there is a delinquency equal to one month's support or income withholding was not previously ordered.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.111

§55.112. Motion To Stay.

This form is filed by the child support obligor, and prohibits the clerk of the court from delivering the judicial writ of withholding to any employer of the obligor before a hearing is held.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.112

§55.116. Notice of Administrative Writ of Withholding and the Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support.

(a)

This form is sent to the obligor by the Title IV-D agency, informing the obligor that withholding has commenced and providing procedures for contesting the withholding.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.116(a)

(b)

This form is issued by the Title IV-D agency to initiate withholding for the enforcement of an existing order.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.116(b)

§55.117. Request for Issuance of Order.

This form is used to request issuance of the Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.117

§55.118. Order/Notice to Withholding Income for Child Support.

This form is federally mandated for use in IV-D and non IV-D cases and may be used as a judicial withholding document, an original withholding document, amended withholding document, or to terminate withholding.

Figure: 1 TAC §55.118

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on July 2, 1999.

TRD-9903949

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 15, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-2110


Part IV. Office of the Secretary of State

Chapter 71. Office of the Secretary of State

Subchapter C. Purchasing Procedures

1 TAC §71.61

The Office of the Secretary of State proposes new §71.61, concerning procedures for Vendor Protests. The new rule establishes protest procedures consistent with those of the General Services Commission.

Mary Jon Urban, Purchasing Manager, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

Ms. Urban also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect, the public benefit anticipated will be to clarify the procedures for formal protest by a vendor and dispute resolution. There will be no effect on small businesses. There are no anticipated economic costs to persons who are required to comply with the rule as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Mary Jon Urban, Office of the Secretary of State, Purchasing, P.O. Box 12887, Austin, Texas 78711 or by e-mail to mjurban@sos.state.tx.us.

The new rule is proposed under the authority of Texas Government Code, Chapter 2155, §2155.132.

Government Code, Chapter 2155, §2155.132 affects this proposal.

§71.61. Protests/Dispute Resolution.

(a)

Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, or contractor alleging to have been aggrieved in connection with the solicitation, evaluation, or award of a contract may formally protest to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administrative Services (the Deputy). Such protests must be in writing and received in the Deputy's office within 10 working days after the protesting party knows, or should have known, of the occurrence of the action which is protested. Formal protests must conform to the requirements of this subsection and subsection (c) of this section, and shall be resolved in accordance with the procedure set forth in subsections (d) and (e) of this section. Copies of the protest must be mailed or delivered by the protesting party to the agency and other interested parties. For the purposes of this section, "interested parties" means all vendors who have submitted bids or proposals for the contract involved.

(b)

In the event of a timely protest or appeal under this section, the Secretary of State's office shall not proceed further with the solicitation or with the award of the contract unless the Deputy makes a written determination that the award of contract without delay is necessary to protect substantial interests of the state.

(c)

A formal protest must be sworn and contain:

(1)

a specific identification of the statutory or regulatory provision(s) that the action complained of is alleged to have violated;

(2)

a specific description of each act alleged to have violated the statutory or regulatory provision(s) identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection;

(3)

a precise statement of the relevant facts;

(4)

an identification of the issue or issues to be resolved;

(5)

argument and authorities in support of the protest; and

(6)

a statement that copies of the protest have been mailed to identifiable interested parties.

(d)

The Deputy shall have the authority, prior to appeal to the Secretary of State, to settle and resolve the dispute concerning the solicitation or award of a contract. The Deputy may solicit written responses to the protest from other interested parties.

(e)

If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the Deputy will issue a written determination on the protest.

(1)

If the Deputy determines that no violation of rules or statutes has occurred, he shall so inform the protesting party and other interested parties by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination.

(2)

If the Deputy determines that a violation of the rules or statutes has occurred in a case where a contract has not been awarded, he shall so inform the protesting party, and other interested parties by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination and the appropriate remedial action.

(3)

If the Deputy determines that a violation of the rules or statutes has occurred in a case where a contract has been awarded, he shall so inform the protesting party and other interested parties by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination, which may include nullifying the contract.

(f)

The Deputy's determination on a protest may be appealed by an interested party to the Secretary of State. An appeal of the Deputy's determination must be in writing and must be received in the Secretary of State's office no later than 10 working days after the date of the Deputy's determination. The appeal shall be limited to review of the Deputy's determination. Copies of the appeal must be mailed or delivered by the appealing party to other interested parties and must contain an affidavit that such copies have been provided.

(g)

The general counsel shall review the protest, Deputy's determination, and the appeal and prepare a written opinion with recommendation to the Secretary of State. Copies of the general counsel's recommendation shall be mailed to the appealing party, and other interested parties.

(h)

When a protest has been appealed to the Secretary of State under subsection (f) of this section a decision issued in writing by the Secretary of State shall be the final administrative action of the agency.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on July 2, 1999.

TRD-9903951

Jeff Eubank

Assistant Secretary of State

Office of the Secretary of State

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 15, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5561


Chapter 102. Health Spas

Subchapter D. Security

1 TAC §102.45

The Office of the Secretary of State proposes an amendment to §102.45, concerning the filing of a certificate of deposit as security under the Health Spa Act. Many banks no longer issue original certificates of deposit. Rather, a book entry is made to reflect such deposits. This amendment is proposed in order to conform §102.45 to current industry practice.

Guy Joyner, Chief, Legal Support Unit, Statutory Documents Section has determined that for the first five year period that the proposed amendments are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government or small business as a result of enforcing the amendment.

Mr. Joyner also has determined that for each year of the first five years that the amendment is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amendment will be the establishment of a procedure for furnishing the required security deposit, and the elimination of a burden on the public to acquire a document that is customarily unavailable.

There is no anticipated additional economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the amendment as proposed.

Comments on the proposed amendment may be submitted to Guy Joyner, Chief, Legal Support Unit, Statutory Documents Section, P.O. Box 12887, Austin, Texas 78711-2887.

The amendment is proposed under the Texas Government Code, Section 2001.004 (1) and the Health Spa Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 5221l, Section 26 which provide the Secretary of State with the authority to prescribe and adopt rules.

The amendment affects the Texas Civil Statutes, Article 5221l, Section 10(a) & (d).

§102.45.Procedure for Filing Certificates of Deposit as Security under the Health Spa Act, §10.

(a)

(No change.)

(b)

A copy of the document, issued by the financial institution, that evidences the existence of the certificate of deposit [ The original certificate of deposit ] must be filed along with an executed assignment form. The assignment form can be obtained from the Statutory Documents Section of the Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 12887, Austin, Texas 78711-2887, (512) 463- 6906 [ 5559 ]. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/function/statforms/spa.html.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on June 31, 1999.

TRD-9903926

Jeffrey H. Eubank

Assistant Secretary of State

Office of the Secretary of State

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 15, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0775