H.B. No. 905
AN ACT
relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements of a
child in hearings on an application for a protective order.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Family Code, is amended by adding
Section 84.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 84.006. HEARSAY STATEMENT OF CHILD VICTIM OF FAMILY
VIOLENCE. In a hearing on an application for a protective order, a
statement made by a child 12 years of age or younger that describes
alleged family violence against the child is admissible as evidence
in the same manner that a child's statement regarding alleged abuse
against the child is admissible under Section 104.006 in a suit
affecting the parent-child relationship.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a hearing on an application for a protective order that is commenced
on or after the effective date of this Act. A hearing on an
application for a protective order that is commenced before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the hearing was commenced, and that law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 905 was passed by the House on March
30, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 905 was passed by the Senate on May 3,
2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor