By: Parker, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Paxton) H.B. No. 2301
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2021;
May 11, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 14, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a change of name for participants in the address
confidentiality program administered by the office of the attorney
general.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 45.102, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A petitioner is not required to provide the street
address of the petitioner's place of residence or the petitioner's
reason for the requested change of name as otherwise required by
Subsection (a) if the petitioner provides a copy of an
authorization card certifying in accordance with Article 58.059,
Code of Criminal Procedure, that the petitioner is a participant in
the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney
general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 2. Section 45.103, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-1) and (c-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a), it is presumed that a
change of name is in the interest or to the benefit of the
petitioner and in the interest of the public if the petitioner
provides a copy of an authorization card certifying in accordance
with Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure, that the
petitioner is a participant in the address confidentiality program
administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter
58, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c-1) An order issued under this section to change the name
of a petitioner described by Subsection (a-1) is confidential and
may not be released by the court to any person, regardless of
whether the petitioner continues to participate in the address
confidentiality program following the change of name under this
subchapter.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a petition for a change of name that is submitted on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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