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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the definitions of dating violence and family violence |
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for purposes of the issuance of a protective order. |
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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, other than a defensive |
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measure to protect oneself, by an actor that: |
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(1) is committed against an applicant for a protective |
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order [a victim]: |
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(A) with whom the actor has or has had a dating |
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relationship; or |
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(B) because of the applicant's [victim's] |
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marriage to or dating relationship with an individual with whom the |
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actor is or has been in a dating relationship or marriage; and |
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(2) is intended to result in physical harm, bodily |
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injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that |
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reasonably places the applicant [victim] in fear of imminent |
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physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault. |
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SECTION 2. Section 71.004, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 71.004. FAMILY VIOLENCE. "Family violence" means: |
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(1) an act by a member of a family or household against |
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another member of the family or household that is intended to result |
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in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that |
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is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent |
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physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does |
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not include defensive measures to protect oneself; |
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(2) abuse, as that term is defined by Sections |
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261.001(A), (B), (C) [261.001(1)(C)], (E), [and] (G), (H), (I), |
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(J), and (K), by a member of a family or household toward a child of |
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the family or household; or |
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(3) dating violence, as that term is defined by |
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Section 71.0021. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a request for a protective order that is filed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A request for a protective order filed |
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before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in |
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effect on the date the request is filed, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |