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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements of a |
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child in hearings on an application for a protective order. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 84.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 84.006. HEARSAY STATEMENT OF CHILD VICTIM OF FAMILY |
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VIOLENCE. In a hearing on an application for a protective order, a |
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statement made by a child 12 years of age or younger that describes |
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alleged family violence against the child is admissible as evidence |
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in the same manner that a child's statement regarding alleged abuse |
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against the child is admissible under Section 104.006 in a suit |
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affecting the parent-child relationship. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a hearing on an application for a protective order that is commenced |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. A hearing on an |
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application for a protective order that is commenced 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 hearing was commenced, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |