HBA-SEB S.B. 804 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 804 By: Ellis Juvenile Justice and Family Issues 5/10/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Family Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure contain provisions for issuing protective orders to protect victims of family violence from further future violence, while the Penal Code establishes penalties for violations of the protective orders. Texas, however, does not have a standard format for protective orders. S.B. 804 requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to collaborate with the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas District and County Attorneys Association to develop a standard format for protective orders issued in cases of family violence. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. (a) Requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to collaborate with the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas District and County Attorneys Association to develop a standard format for protective orders issued under Title 4, Family Code (Protective Orders and Family Violence). (b) Requires DPS, in developing the standard format for protective orders, to consider the standard formats for protective orders adopted by other states. (c) Provides that the standard format for a protective order must be concise and easily understandable to a peace officer who attempts to enforce the order, to the maximum extent possible. SECTION 2. Requires the director of DPS, not later than December 1, 2000, to make a recommendation to the 77th Legislature regarding a standard format for protective orders issued under Title 4, Family Code. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.