| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a change of name for participants in the address |
|
|
confidentiality program administered by the office of the attorney |
|
|
general. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 45.102, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A petitioner is not required to provide the street |
|
|
address of the petitioner's place of residence or the petitioner's |
|
|
reason for the requested change of name as otherwise required by |
|
|
Subsection (a) if the petitioner provides a copy of an |
|
|
authorization card certifying in accordance with Article 58.059, |
|
|
Code of Criminal Procedure, that the petitioner is a participant in |
|
|
the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney |
|
|
general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 45.103, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsections (a-1) and (c-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a), it is presumed that a |
|
|
change of name is in the interest or to the benefit of the |
|
|
petitioner and in the interest of the public if the petitioner |
|
|
provides a copy of an authorization card certifying in accordance |
|
|
with Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure, that the |
|
|
petitioner is a participant in the address confidentiality program |
|
|
administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter |
|
|
58, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
|
|
(c-1) An order issued under this section to change the name |
|
|
of a petitioner described by Subsection (a-1) is confidential and |
|
|
may not be released by the court to any person, regardless of |
|
|
whether the petitioner continues to participate in the address |
|
|
confidentiality program following the change of name under this |
|
|
subchapter. |
|
|
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a petition for a change of name that is submitted on or after the |
|
|
effective date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |