TITLE: Relating to the duration of certain protective orders against family violence.

SUMMARY: Relating to the duration of certain protective orders against family violence.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the duration of certain protective orders against family violence. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 85.025(a-1), Family Code, is amended to read as follows: (a-1) The court may render a protective order sufficient to protect the applicant and members of the applicant's family or household that is effective for a period that exceeds two years if the court finds that the person who is the subject of the protective order: (1) committed an act constituting a felony offense involving family violence against the applicant or a member of the applicant's family or household, regardless of whether the person has been charged with or convicted of the offense; (2) caused serious bodily injury to the applicant or a member of the applicant's family or household; or (3) [(2)] was the subject of two or more previous protective orders rendered: (A) to protect the person on whose behalf the current protective order is sought; and (B) after a finding by the court that the subject of the protective order: (i) has committed family violence; and (ii) is likely to commit family violence in the future. SECTION 2. 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 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.