BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 578

By: Zaffirini

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the most dangerous time for a survivor of domestic violence is when they are leaving their abuser. When an applicant files for a protective order they must disclose their county of residence. Once the order is granted, the abuser is then served the order with that county listed. Survivors who leave their abusers are at high risk of being found and harassed, and the exposure of their personal information can make them even more vulnerable. S.B. 578 seeks to enhance the safety of protective order applicants by providing for the confidentiality of their county of residence.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 578 amends the Family Code to expand the scope of the following provisions to provide for the confidentiality of the county of residence of an applicant for or a person protected by a family violence protective order:

· provisions authorizing a court, on the request of the applicant for the protective order, to protect the applicant's mailing address; and

· provisions authorizing a court to exclude from the protective order, on request of the person protected by the order or a member of that person's family or household, certain address and telephone number information.

These provisions apply to an application for a protective order that is filed on or after the bill's effective date and to a protective order rendered before, on, or after that date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.