By Ellis                                               S.B. No. 804
         76R5361 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to developing a standard format for protective orders.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Public Safety shall
 1-5     collaborate with the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas
 1-6     District and County Attorneys Association to develop a standard
 1-7     format for protective orders issued under Title 4, Family Code.
 1-8           (b)  In developing the standard format for protective orders
 1-9     as required by Subsection (a), the Texas Department of Public
1-10     Safety shall consider the standard formats for protective orders
1-11     adopted by other states.
1-12           (c)  To the maximum extent possible, the standard format for
1-13     a protective order developed under Subsection (a) must be concise
1-14     and easily understandable to a peace officer who attempts to
1-15     enforce the order.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2000, the director of
1-17     the Texas Department of Public Safety shall make a recommendation
1-18     to the 77th Legislature regarding a standard format for protective
1-19     orders issued under Title 4, Family Code.
1-20           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.