Bill Text: TX SB250 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to protective orders for stalking victims.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-27 - Effective on 9/1/11 [SB250 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB250-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 250

AN ACT
relating to protective orders for stalking victims.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 7A. PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR
STALKING
SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Article 7A.01, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A person who is the victim of an offense under Section
21.02, 21.11, 22.011, [or] 22.021, or 42.072, Penal Code, a parent
or guardian acting on behalf of a person younger than 17 years of
age who is the victim of such an offense, or a prosecuting attorney
acting on behalf of the person may file an application for a
protective order under this chapter without regard to the
relationship between the applicant and the alleged offender.
SECTION 3. Article 7A.02, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 7A.02. TEMPORARY EX PARTE ORDER. If the court finds
from the information contained in an application for a protective
order that there is a clear and present danger of [a] sexual
assault, stalking, or other harm to the applicant, the court,
without further notice to the alleged offender and without a
hearing, may enter a temporary ex parte order for the protection of
the applicant or any other member of the applicant's family or
household.
SECTION 4. Article 7A.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 7A.03. REQUIRED FINDINGS; ISSUANCE OF PROTECTIVE
ORDER. (a) At the close of a hearing on an application for a
protective order under this chapter, the court shall find whether
there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant is the
victim of:
(1) [a] sexual assault and:
(A) [(1)] is younger than 18 years of age; or
(B) [(2)] regardless of age, is the subject of a
threat that reasonably places the applicant in fear of further harm
from the alleged offender; or
(2) stalking.
(b) If the court makes a finding described by Subsection
(a)(1) or (2) [finds reasonable grounds to believe that the
applicant is the victim of a sexual assault and is younger than 18
years of age, or regardless of age, the subject of a threat that
reasonably places the applicant in fear of further harm from the
alleged offender], the court shall issue a protective order that
includes a statement of the required findings.
SECTION 5. 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 that is 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 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 250 passed the Senate on
March 24, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 250 passed the House on
May 10, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, one
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor