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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to evidence sufficient for the issuance of a stalking |
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protective order. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 7A.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A court may not find that there are reasonable grounds |
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to believe that the applicant is the victim of stalking solely based |
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on the content of an electronic communication unless the |
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communication threatens harm to the applicant, a member of the |
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applicant's family or household, the applicant's pet or property, |
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or another person. For purposes of this subsection, "electronic |
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communication" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.07, Penal |
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Code. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a protective order submitted on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application submitted 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 was submitted, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |