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79R6903 MCK-D
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2911
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of certain court orders to protect victims
of family violence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 17.292(j), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is amended to read as follows:
(j) An order for emergency protection issued under this
article is effective on issuance, and the defendant shall be served
a copy of the order in open court. An order for emergency
protection issued under Subsection (a) or (b)(1) of this article
remains in effect up to the 61st day but not less than 31 days after
the date of issuance. An order for emergency protection issued
under Subsection (b)(2) of this article remains in effect up to the
91st day but not less than 61 days after the date of issuance. After
notice to each affected party and a hearing, the issuing court may
modify all or part of an order issued under this article if the
court finds that:
(1) the order as originally issued is unworkable;
(2) the modification will not place the victim of the
offense at greater risk than did the original order; and
(3) the modification will not in any way endanger a
person protected under the order.
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 6, Family Code, is amended
by adding Section 6.404 to read as follows:
Sec. 6.404. INFORMATION REGARDING PROTECTIVE ORDERS. At
any time while a suit for dissolution of a marriage is pending, if
the court believes, on the basis of any information received by the
court, that a party to the suit or a member of the party's family or
household may be a victim of family violence, the court shall inform
that party of the party's right to apply for a protective order
under Title 4.
SECTION 3. Chapter 105, Family Code, is amended by adding
Section 105.0011 to read as follows:
Sec. 105.0011. INFORMATION REGARDING PROTECTIVE ORDERS. At
any time while a suit is pending, if the court believes, on the
basis of any information received by the court, that a party to the
suit or a member of the party's family or household may be a victim
of family violence, the court shall inform that party of the party's
right to apply for a protective order under Title 4.
SECTION 4. Article 17.292(j), Code of Criminal Procedure,
as amended by this Act, applies only to an order for emergency
protection rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. An
order rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed by
the law in effect on the date the order was rendered, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.