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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to and notification of protective order registry |
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information. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Anthony's Law. |
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SECTION 2. Section 72.155, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.155. RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PROTECTIVE ORDER |
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REGISTRY. (a) The registry must include a copy of each |
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application for a protective order filed in this state and a copy of |
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each protective order issued in this state, including an expired |
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order, or a vacated order other than an order that was vacated as |
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the result of an appeal or bill of review from a district or county |
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court. Only an authorized user, the attorney general, a district |
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attorney, a criminal district attorney, a county attorney, a |
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municipal attorney, an attorney representing a party in a civil |
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action, a victim of family violence or of an offense for which a |
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protective order may be granted under Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, who is representing himself or herself in a civil |
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action, a magistrate, or a peace officer may access that |
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information under the registry. |
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(b) The office shall ensure that an authorized user, the |
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attorney general, a district attorney, a criminal district |
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attorney, a county attorney, a municipal attorney, an attorney |
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representing a party in a civil action, a victim of family violence |
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or of an offense for which a protective order may be granted under |
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Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is representing himself |
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or herself in a civil action, a magistrate, or a peace officer is |
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able to search for and receive a copy of a filed application for a |
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protective order or a copy of an issued protective order through the |
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registry's Internet website. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 72, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 72.1555 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.1555. ACCESS TO AND NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN |
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REGISTRY INFORMATION. (a) The protective order registry must be |
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configured to provide access to information in the registry to: |
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(1) a court with jurisdiction over a case in which a |
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person who is subject to a protective order appears related to a |
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civil violation of the protective order or for any criminal |
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offense; |
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(2) the attorney general or a district attorney, |
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criminal district attorney, county attorney, or municipal attorney |
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who is prosecuting a person who is subject to the protective order; |
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(3) an attorney representing a party in a civil action |
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or a victim of family violence or of an offense for which a |
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protective order may be granted under Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, who is representing himself or herself in a civil |
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action; or |
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(4) a peace officer who is investigating a person who |
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is subject to the protective order. |
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(b) If a person subject to a protective order issued by a |
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court appears in a court of another county for a civil violation of |
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the protective order or any criminal offense, the registry must be |
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configured to provide notice to the court that issued the |
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protective order of: |
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(1) the time, place, and nature of the person's |
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violation or offense; |
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(2) the name and location of the court with |
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jurisdiction over the violation or offense; |
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(3) the name and contact information of the attorney |
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general or the district attorney, criminal district attorney, |
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county attorney, or municipal attorney who is prosecuting the |
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violation or offense; and |
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(4) the name and contact information of any peace |
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officer whose information is included in the registry as the |
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investigator for the violation or offense. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |