Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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JURISPRUDENCE
77 th Texas Legislature
Arts, Entertainment, Advertisement, and Sports Contracts with Minors - H.B. 539
by Representative Thompson
Senate Sponsor: Senator West
Provides that these provisions do not authorize the making of a contract that binds a minor beyond the
seventh anniversary of the date of the contract.
Authorizes a court, on petition of the guardian of a minor’s estate, to approve an arts and entertainment
contract, advertisement contract, or sports contract that is entered into by the minor. The guardian must
provide notice of the petition to the other party to the contract and that party may request a hearing. Each
parent of the minor is a necessary party to such a proceeding. Provides that an otherwise valid contract so
approved may not be voidable solely on the ground that it was entered into by a minor.
Authorizes a court to require in an order approving a contract that a reasonable portion of the net earnings
of the minor under the contract be set aside and preserved for the benefit of the minor in a trust.
Authorizes a court to appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor who has entered into an arts and
entertainment contract, advertisement contract, or sports contract, if the court finds that the appointment
would be in the minor’s best interest.
Income Withholding for Spousal Maintenance - H.B. 691
by Representative Thompson
Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Exempts contractual alimony or spousal maintenance, from the income withholding provisions, unless the
contract specifically permits income withholding or the alimony or maintenance payments are not timely
made under the terms of the contract.
Authorizes an order or writ of withholding for spousal maintenance to be combined with an order or writ of
withholding for child support if the obligee is the managing conservator of that child and is the conservator
with whom the child primarily resides.
Sets out what must be contained in an order or writ of withholding combining withholding for spousal
maintenance and child support, including a provision that withheld income be applied in the following order
of priority:
• current child support;
• current spousal maintenance;
• child support arrearages; and
• spousal maintenance arrearages.
Provides that garnishment for the purposes of spousal maintenance does not apply to unemployment
insurance benefit payments.
Authorizes a court, if no current spousal maintenance is owed, to order income withholding to be applied
toward arrearages in an amount sufficient to discharge those arrearages in not more than two years.
Senate Research Center 194