The court must issue dental support orders and related temporary or final orders, and the parties must disclose dental insurance details for the child.
Sec. 154.1815. DENTAL SUPPORT ORDER. (a) In this section, "reasonable cost" means the cost of a dental insurance premium that does not exceed 1.5 percent of the obligor's annual resources, as described by Section 154.062(b), if the obligor is responsible under a dental support order for the cost of dental insurance coverage for only one child. If the obligor is responsible under a dental support order for the cost of dental insurance coverage for more than one child, "reasonable cost" means the total cost of dental insurance coverage for all children for which the obligor is responsible under a dental support order that does not exceed 1.5 percent of the obligor's annual resources, as described by Section 154.062(b). (b) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship or in a proceeding under Chapter 159, the court shall render an order for the dental support of the child as provided by this section and Section 154.1825. (c) Before a hearing on temporary orders, or a final order if no hearing on temporary orders is held, the court shall require the parties to the proceedings to disclose in a pleading or other document whether the child is covered by dental insurance and, if the child is covered, the identity of the insurer providing the coverage, the policy number, which parent is responsible for payment of any insurance premium for the coverage, whether the coverage is provided through a parent's employment, and the cost of the premium. If dental insurance is not in effect for the child, the parties must disclose to the court whether either parent has access to dental insurance at a reasonable cost to the obligor. (d) In rendering temporary orders, the court shall, except for good cause shown, order that any dental insurance coverage in effect for the child continue in effect pending the rendition of a final order, except that the court may not require the continuation of any dental insurance that is not available to the parent at a reasonable cost to the obligor. If dental insurance coverage is not in effect for the child or if the insurance in effect is not available at a reasonable cost to the obligor, the court shall, except for good cause shown, order dental insurance coverage for the child as provided by Section 154.1825. (e) On rendering a final order the court shall: (1) make specific findings with respect to the manner in which dental insurance coverage is to be provided for the child, in accordance with the priorities identified under Section 154.1825; and (2) except for good cause shown or on agreement of the parties, require the parent ordered to provide dental insurance coverage for the child as provided by Section 154.1825 to produce evidence to the court's satisfaction that the parent has applied for or secured dental insurance or has otherwise taken necessary action to provide for dental insurance coverage for the child, as ordered by the court. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2018.