SRC-DPW S.B. 804 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 804 By: Ellis Criminal Justice 6/28/1999 Enrolled DIGEST 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. The Penal Code establishes penalties for violations of the protective orders. Texas does not have a standard format for protective orders, which can lead to problems in enforcing an order. This bill will require 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 under Title 4, Family Code. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 804 requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to develop a standard format for protective orders issued under Title 4, Family Code. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Requires the Texas 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. Requires DPS to consider the format of protective orders of other states. Requires the protective order to be concise and easily understandable. SECTION 2. Requires the director of DPS to make a recommendation to the legislature regarding the format of the protective order, by December 1, 2000. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.