TO:	Honorable Victoria Neave, Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1372 by Guerra (Relating to authorizing a petitioner for a protective order to separate the petitioner's wireless telephone number from the respondent's wireless telephone service account.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Family Code to allow protective order petitioners to request separation of their wireless telephone number from the respondent's wireless telephone service account if the petitioner is the primary user of that number. The bill would allow a petitioner's request to include a phone number used primarily by the petitioner's child. Upon a showing that the child in the petitioner's care or custody is the primary user of the phone number, the court is required to render a separate order directing the wireless telephone service provider to transfer the billing responsibilities and rights to each listed wireless telephone number to the petitioner. The order would be required to include the name and billing information, the telephone number to be transferred, and a statement requiring the wireless telephone service provider to transfer to the petitioner all financial responsibility for and the right to use each wireless telephone number transferred. The court would then be required to serve a copy of the order on the registered agent for the wireless telephone service provider and ensure that the contact information of the petitioner is not provided to the respondent as the wireless telephone service account holder.

The bill would also amend the Business and Commerce code to direct wireless telephone service providers on procedures to comply with the court's order, prohibiting collection of fees associated with early termination, and prohibiting a provider from being subject to civil liability for compliance with the court's order.

Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated as a result from implementing the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.