| 4 | 3 | | |
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| 5 | 4 | | |
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| 6 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 7 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 8 | 7 | | relating to informing the public about the availability of |
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| 9 | 8 | | provisions in protective orders, including provisions regarding |
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| 10 | 9 | | pets and other companion animals. |
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| 11 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 13 | 12 | | Section 81.012 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 13 | | Sec. 81.012. DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN |
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| 15 | 14 | | PROVISIONS AVAILABLE UNDER PROTECTIVE ORDER. The attorney general |
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| 16 | 15 | | and the State Bar of Texas shall jointly develop information to |
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| 17 | 16 | | provide to the public about the provisions that may be included in a |
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| 18 | 17 | | protective order, including the ability of a court to render a |
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| 19 | 18 | | protective order prohibiting a party from removing a pet, companion |
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| 20 | 19 | | animal, or assistance animal as defined by Section 121.002, Human |
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| 21 | 20 | | Resources Code, from the possession or actual or constructive care |
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| 22 | 21 | | of a person named in the order. |
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| 23 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Government Code, is |
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| 24 | 23 | | amended by adding Section 41.016 to read as follows: |
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| 25 | 24 | | Sec. 41.016. INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS |
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| 26 | 25 | | AVAILABLE UNDER PROTECTIVE ORDER. The office of a prosecuting |
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| 27 | 26 | | attorney shall make information developed under Section 81.012, |
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| 28 | 27 | | Family Code, readily available at the prosecuting attorney's office |
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| 29 | 28 | | to persons who wish to apply for a protective order. |
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| 30 | 29 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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