This section lets Title IV-D agencies request certain personal and financial information for child support work and requires many agencies and applicants to provide social security numbers in covered cases.
Sec. 231.302. INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN LOCATION OF PERSONS OR PROPERTY. (a) The Title IV-D agency of this or another state may request and obtain information relating to the identity, location, employment, compensation, benefits, income, and property holdings or other assets of any person from a state or local government agency, private company, institution, or other entity as necessary to establish, modify, or enforce a support order. (b) A government agency, private company, institution, or other entity shall provide the information requested under Subsection (a) directly to the Title IV-D agency not later than the seventh day after the request to obtain information is received, without the requirement of payment of a fee for the information, and shall, subject to safeguards on privacy and information security, provide the information in the most efficient and expeditious manner available, including electronic or automated transfer and interface. Any individual or entity disclosing information under this section in response to a request from a Title IV-D agency may not be held liable in any civil action or proceeding to any person for the disclosure of information under this subsection. (b-1) After conducting an investigation and assessment of a party's financial resources in a child support action under this title, the Title IV-D agency may prepare and submit to the court an investigation report indicating the agency's findings regarding the party's average monthly gross income based on information obtained under Subsection (a). The Title IV-D agency investigation report must be signed by the agent who prepared the report. The investigation report is admissible as evidence of the truth of the information contained in the record and does not require further authentication or verification. A respondent may offer evidence controverting income information contained in an investigation report submitted under this subsection. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1) or (c-2), to assist in the administration of laws relating to child support enforcement under Parts A and D of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.): (1) each licensing authority shall request and each applicant for a license shall provide the applicant's social security number; (2) each agency administering a contract that provides for a payment of state funds shall request and each individual or entity bidding on a state contract shall provide the individual's or entity's social security number as required by Section 231.006; and (3) each agency administering a state-funded grant or loan program shall request and each applicant for a grant or loan shall provide the applicant's social security number as required by Section 231.006. (c-1) For purposes of issuing a license to carry a concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, the Department of Public Safety is not required to request, and an applicant is not required to provide, the applicant's social security number. (c-2) For purposes of issuing a fishing or hunting license, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to request, and an applicant is not required to provide, the applicant's social security number if the applicant is 13 years of age or younger. (d) This section does not limit the right of an agency or licensing authority to collect and use a social security number under another provision of law. (e) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a social security number provided under this section is confidential and may be disclosed only for the purposes of responding to a request for information from an agency operating under the provisions of Part A or D of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 601 et seq. and 651 et seq). (f) Information collected by the Title IV-D agency under this section may be used only for child support purposes. (g) In this section, "licensing authority" has the meaning assigned by Section 232.001. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 84, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 420, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 77, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 6.28, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 56, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 665 (H.B. 1349), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 153 (H.B. 821), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963 (S.B. 1727), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 61 (S.B. 1403), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2025.