83R7221 MTB-F
By: Anchia H.B. No. 2508
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the protection of persons from family violence and
other violence in guardianship proceedings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 1053, Estates Code, as
effective January 1, 2014, is amended by adding Section 1053.104 to
read as follows:
Sec. 1053.104. CONTENTS OF APPLICATION; CONFIDENTIALITY OF
CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) An application filed under this title may
omit the address of a person named in the application if:
(1) the application states that the person is
protected by a protective order issued under Chapter 85, Family
Code;
(2) a copy of the protective order is attached to the
application as an exhibit;
(3) the application states the county in which the
person resides;
(4) the application indicates the place where notice
to or the issuance and service of citation on the person may be made
or sent; and
(5) the application is accompanied by a request for an
order under Section 1051.201 specifying the manner of issuance,
service, and return of citation or notice on the person.
(b) On request by a person protected by a protective order
issued under Chapter 85, Family Code, or a guardian, attorney ad
litem, or member of the family or household of a person protected by
an order, the court may exclude from any document filed in a
guardianship proceeding:
(1) the address and phone number of the person
protected by the protective order;
(2) the place of employment or business of the person
protected by the protective order;
(3) the school attended by the person protected by the
protective order or the day-care center or other child-care
facility the person attends or in which the person resides; and
(4) the place at which service of process on the person
protected by the protective order was effectuated.
(c) On granting a request for confidentiality under this
section, the court shall order the clerk to:
(1) strike the information described by Subsection (b)
from the public records of the court; and
(2) maintain a confidential record of the information
for use only by the court.
SECTION 2. Section 1104.353(b), Estates Code, as effective
January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:
(b) It is presumed to be not in the best interests of a ward
or incapacitated person to appoint as guardian of the ward or
incapacitated person a person who has been finally convicted of:
(1) any sexual offense, including sexual assault,
aggravated sexual assault, and prohibited sexual conduct;
(2) aggravated assault;
(3) injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled
individual; [or]
(4) abandoning or endangering a child;
(5) terroristic threat; or
(6) continuous violence against the family of the ward
or incapacitated person.
SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 1104, Estates Code, as
effective January 1, 2014, is amended by adding Section 1104.358 to
read as follows:
Sec. 1104.358. SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR FAMILY
VIOLENCE. A person found to have committed family violence who is
subject to a protective order issued under Chapter 85, Family Code,
may not be appointed guardian of a proposed ward or ward who is
protected by the protective order.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a guardianship proceeding that is commenced or pending on or after
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.