85R5699 KJE-F
By: Hunter, Herrero H.B. No. 2021
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duration of certain protective orders against
family violence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 85.025(a-1), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a-1) The court may render a protective order sufficient to
protect the applicant and members of the applicant's family or
household that is effective for a period that exceeds two years if
the court finds that the person who is the subject of the protective
order:
(1) committed an act constituting a felony offense
involving family violence against the applicant or a member of the
applicant's family or household, regardless of whether the person
has been charged with or convicted of the offense;
(2) caused serious bodily injury to the applicant or a
member of the applicant's family or household; or
(3) [(2)] was the subject of two or more previous
protective orders rendered:
(A) to protect the person on whose behalf the
current protective order is sought; and
(B) after a finding by the court that the subject
of the protective order:
(i) has committed family violence; and
(ii) is likely to commit family violence in
the future.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an application for a protective order that is filed on or after
the effective date of this Act. An application for a protective
order filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect on the date the application is filed, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.