TITLE: Relating to protective orders for certain children who are victims of abuse or neglect.

SUMMARY: Relating to protective orders for certain children who are victims of abuse or neglect.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to protective orders for certain children who are victims of abuse or neglect. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 261, Family Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Fto read as follows: SUBCHAPTER F. PROTECTIVE ORDER IN CERTAIN CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT Sec. 261.501. FILING APPLICATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER IN CERTAIN CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. The department may file an application for a protective order for a child's protection under this subchapter on the department's own initiative or jointly with a parent, relative, or caregiver of the child who requests the filing of the application if the department: (1) determines that: (A) the child is a victim of abuse or neglect; and (B) there is an immediate or continuing danger of abuse or neglect to the child; and (2) is not otherwise authorized to apply for a protective order for the child's protection under Chapter 82. Sec. 261.502. CERTIFICATION OF FINDINGS. (a) In making the application under this subchapter, the department must certify that: (1) the department has diligently searched for and: (A) was unable to locate the child's parent, legal guardian, or custodian, other than the respondent to the application; or (B) located and provided notice of the proposed application to the child's parent, legal guardian, or custodian, other than the respondent to the application; and (2) if applicable, the relative or caregiver who is jointly filing the petition, or with whom the child would reside following an entry of the protective order, has not abused or neglected the child and does not have a history of abuse or neglect. (b) An application for a temporary ex parte order under Section 261.503 may be filed without making the findings required by Subsection (a) if the department certifies that the department believes that there is an immediate danger of abuse or neglect to the child. Sec. 261.503. TEMPORARY EX PARTE ORDER. If the court finds from the information contained in an application for a protective order that there is an immediate danger of abuse or neglect to the child, the court, without further notice to the respondent and without a hearing, may enter a temporary ex parte order for the protection of the child. Sec. 261.504. REQUIRED FINDINGS; ISSUANCE OF PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) At the close of a hearing on an application for a protective order under this subchapter, the court shall find whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the child is the victim of abuse or neglect and that there is an immediate or continuing danger of abuse or neglect to the child. (b) If the court makes an affirmative finding under Subsection (a), the court shall issue a protective order that includes a statement of that finding. Sec. 261.505. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. To the extent applicable, except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, Title 4 applies to a protective order issued under this subchapter. SECTION 2. The heading to Section 25.07, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 25.07. VIOLATION OF CERTAIN COURT ORDERS OR CONDITIONS OF BOND IN A FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING CASE. SECTION 3. Section 25.07(a), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if, in violation of a condition of bond set in a family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking case and related to the safety of a victim or the safety of the community, an order issued under Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal Procedure, an order issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, an order issued under Section 6.504, Family Code, Chapter 83, Family Code, if the temporary ex parte order has been served on the person, [or] Chapter 85, Family Code, or Subchapter F, Chapter 261, Family Code, or an order issued by another jurisdiction as provided by Chapter 88, Family Code, the person knowingly or intentionally: (1) commits family violence or an act in furtherance of an offense under Section 20A.02, 22.011, 22.021, or 42.072; (2) communicates: (A) directly with a protected individual or a member of the family or household in a threatening or harassing manner; (B) a threat through any person to a protected individual or a member of the family or household; or (C) in any manner with the protected individual or a member of the family or household except through the person's attorney or a person appointed by the court, if the violation is of an order described by this subsection and the order prohibits any communication with a protected individual or a member of the family or household; (3) goes to or near any of the following places as specifically described in the order or condition of bond: (A) the residence or place of employment or business of a protected individual or a member of the family or household; or (B) any child care facility, residence, or school where a child protected by the order or condition of bond normally resides or attends; (4) possesses a firearm; (5) harms, threatens, or interferes with the care, custody, or control of a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal that is possessed by a person protected by the order or condition of bond; or (6) removes, attempts to remove, or otherwise tampers with the normal functioning of a global positioning monitoring system. SECTION 4. The heading to Section 25.072, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 25.072. REPEATED VIOLATION OF CERTAIN COURT ORDERS OR CONDITIONS OF BOND IN FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING CASE. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.