86R12763 JSC-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 2344
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to evidence sufficient for the issuance of a stalking
protective order.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 7A.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A court may not find that there are reasonable grounds
to believe that the applicant is the victim of stalking solely based
on the content of an electronic communication unless the
communication threatens harm to the applicant, a member of the
applicant's family or household, the applicant's pet or property,
or another person. For purposes of this subsection, "electronic
communication" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.07, Penal
Code.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an application for a protective order submitted on or after the
effective date of this Act. An application submitted before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the application was submitted, and the former law is continued
in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.