| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the time by which certain persons found to have engaged |
|
|
in family violence must complete court-ordered counseling. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 85.024(a), Family Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A person found to have engaged in family violence who is |
|
|
ordered to attend a program or counseling under Section |
|
|
85.022(a)(1) or (2) shall file with the court an affidavit before |
|
|
the 60th day after the date the order was rendered stating either |
|
|
that the person has begun the program or counseling or that a |
|
|
program or counseling is not available within a reasonable distance |
|
|
from the person's residence. A person who files an affidavit that |
|
|
the person has begun the program or counseling shall file with the |
|
|
court before the date the protective order expires a statement that |
|
|
the person completed the program or counseling not later than the |
|
|
30th day before the expiration date of the protective order or the |
|
|
30th day before the first anniversary of the date the protective |
|
|
order was issued, whichever date is earlier. An affidavit under |
|
|
this subsection must be accompanied by a letter, notice, or |
|
|
certificate from the program or counselor that verifies the |
|
|
person's completion of the program or counseling. A person who |
|
|
fails to comply with this subsection may be punished for contempt of |
|
|
court under Section 21.002, Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a protective order rendered under Title 4, Family Code, on or |
|
|
after the effective date of this Act. A protective order rendered |
|
|
before that date 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |