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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the effectiveness of protective orders in |
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this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Office" means the Office of Court Administration |
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of the Texas Judicial System. |
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(2) "Protective order" means any order that is issued |
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or rendered by a court and that prohibits a person from engaging in |
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certain specified conduct directed toward another person or |
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property, including: |
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(A) a protective order under Title 4, Family |
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Code; |
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(B) a temporary restraining order under Section |
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6.501, Family Code, or a protective order under Section 6.504, |
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Family Code; |
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(C) a magistrate's order for emergency |
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protection under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; and |
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(D) a protective order under Subchapter A, |
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Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(b) The office shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of |
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protective orders in protecting victims of violence in this state. |
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(c) The office shall create a report based on the study |
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conducted under this section. The report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of protective |
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orders in protecting victims of violence in this state by deterring |
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the person who is the subject of the order from engaging in the |
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conduct prohibited under those orders; and |
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(2) legislative recommendations on methods to improve |
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the enforcement of protective orders in this state. |
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(d) Not later than September 1, 2024, the office shall |
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submit the report required under Subsection (c) of this section to |
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the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and appropriate committees of the legislature. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2023. |