| 1 | 1 | | 89R2313 MLH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia of Dallas H.B. No. 4696 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the remote participation of certain persons in a |
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| 10 | 10 | | proceeding for the issuance or modification of a protective order. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 13 | 13 | | Section 84.007 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 84.007. REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY APPLICANT OR WITNESS. |
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| 15 | 15 | | On written request by an applicant or a witness who is to be |
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| 16 | 16 | | protected by a proposed protective order, the court shall provide a |
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| 17 | 17 | | method by which the applicant or witness may give testimony or |
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| 18 | 18 | | otherwise participate in the hearing on the application for the |
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| 19 | 19 | | protective order remotely, unless the court finds there is good |
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| 20 | 20 | | cause to deny the request to participate remotely. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. Chapter 87, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 22 | 22 | | Section 87.005 to read as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | Sec. 87.005. REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY APPLICANT OR WITNESS. |
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| 24 | 24 | | On written request by an applicant or a witness who is protected by |
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| 25 | 25 | | a protective order, the court shall provide a method by which the |
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| 26 | 26 | | applicant or witness may give testimony or otherwise participate in |
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| 27 | 27 | | the hearing on the motion for modification of the protective order |
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| 28 | 28 | | remotely, unless the court finds there is good cause to deny the |
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| 29 | 29 | | request to participate remotely. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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| 31 | 31 | | proceeding under Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code, that is pending |
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| 32 | 32 | | on or filed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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