88R346 JCG-D
 
  By: Meyer, Leach, Bowers, Lujan, et al. H.B. No. 1161
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the confidentiality of home address information for
  victims of child abduction and to the administration of the address
  confidentiality program by the office of the attorney general.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 58.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Child abduction" means any conduct that:
                     (A)  constitutes an offense under Sections 20.02,
  20.03, 20.04, 25.03, and 25.031, Penal Code; and
                     (B)  results in a person younger than 18 years of
  age becoming a victim of the offense.
         SECTION 2.  Article 58.052(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The attorney general shall establish an address
  confidentiality program, as provided by this subchapter, to assist
  a victim of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking,
  child abduction, or trafficking of persons in maintaining a
  confidential address.
         SECTION 3.  Article 58.054, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 58.054.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to participate in
  the program:
               (1)  an applicant must satisfy any of the following:
                     (A)  meet with a victim's assistance counselor
  from a state or local agency or other for-profit or nonprofit entity
  that is identified by the attorney general as an entity that
  provides shelter or civil legal services or counseling to victims
  of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, child
  abduction, or trafficking of persons;
                     (B)  be protected under, or be filing an
  application on behalf of a victim who is the applicant's child or
  another person in the applicant's household and who is protected
  under:
                           (i)  a temporary injunction issued under
  Subchapter F, Chapter 6, Family Code;
                           (ii)  a temporary ex parte order issued
  under Chapter 83, Family Code;
                           (iii)  an order issued under Subchapter A or
  B, Chapter 7B, of this code or Chapter 85, Family Code; or
                           (iv)  a magistrate's order for emergency
  protection issued under Article 17.292; or
                     (C)  possess documentation of family violence,
  child abduction, or trafficking of persons, as identified by the
  rules adopted under Article 58.056, or of sexual assault or abuse or
  stalking, as described by Section 92.0161, Property Code; and
               (2)  an applicant must satisfy all of the following:
                     (A)  file an application for participation with
  the attorney general or a state or local agency or other entity
  identified by the attorney general under Subdivision (1);
                     (B)  file an affirmation that the applicant has
  discussed safety planning with a victim's assistance counselor
  described by Subdivision (1)(A);
                     (C)  designate the attorney general as agent to
  receive service of process and mail on behalf of the applicant; and
                     (D)  live at a residential address, or relocate to
  a residential address, that is unknown to the person who committed
  or is alleged to have committed the family violence, sexual assault
  or abuse, stalking, child abduction, or trafficking of persons.
         SECTION 4.  Article 58.055(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An application under Article 58.054(2)(A) must contain:
               (1)  a signed, sworn statement by the applicant stating
  that the applicant fears for the safety of the applicant, the
  applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household
  because of a threat of immediate or future harm caused by the person
  who committed or is alleged to have committed the family violence,
  sexual assault or abuse, stalking, child abduction, or trafficking
  of persons;
               (2)  the applicant's true residential address and, if
  applicable, the applicant's business and school addresses; and
               (3)  a statement by the applicant of whether there is an
  existing court order or a pending court case for child support or
  child custody or visitation that involves the applicant, the
  applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household
  and, if so, the name and address of:
                     (A)  the legal counsel of record; and
                     (B)  each parent involved in the court order or
  pending case.
         SECTION 5.  Article 58.056(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The attorney general may establish procedures for
  requiring an applicant, in appropriate circumstances, to submit
  with the application under Article 58.054(2)(A) independent
  documentary evidence of family violence, sexual assault or abuse,
  stalking, child abduction, or trafficking of persons in the form
  of:
               (1)  an active or recently issued order described by
  Article 58.054(1)(B);
               (2)  an incident report or other record maintained by a
  law enforcement agency or official;
               (3)  a statement of a physician or other health care
  provider regarding the medical condition of the applicant,
  applicant's child, or other person in the applicant's household as a
  result of the family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking,
  child abduction, or trafficking of persons;
               (4)  a statement of a mental health professional, a
  member of the clergy, an attorney or other legal advocate, a trained
  staff member of a family violence center, or another professional
  who has assisted the applicant, applicant's child, or other person
  in the applicant's household in addressing the effects of the
  family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, child
  abduction, or trafficking of persons; or
               (5)  any other independent documentary evidence
  necessary to show the applicant's eligibility to participate in the
  program.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.