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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to protective orders against dating violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 71.0021(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) "Dating violence" means an act by an individual that is |
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against another individual with whom that person has or has had a |
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dating relationship, or by an individual against another individual |
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who is in a dating relationship with a third individual with whom |
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the actor is or has been in a dating relationship or marriage, and |
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that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, |
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assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably |
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places the individual in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily |
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injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive |
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measures to protect oneself. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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71.0021, Family Code, applies only to an application for a |
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protective order that is filed on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. An application for a protective order filed before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the application is filed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |