2015 Texas Statutes
CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
TITLE 1 - CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 7A - PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING

CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

TITLE 1. CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 7A. PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING

Art. 7A.01. APPLICATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER.

(a) The following persons may file an application for a protective order under this chapter without regard to the relationship between the applicant and the alleged offender:

(1) a person who is the victim of an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 42.072, Penal Code;

(2) a person who is the victim of an offense under Section 20A.02, 20A.03, or 43.05, Penal Code;

(3) a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a person younger than 17 years of age who is the victim of an offense listed in Subdivision (1);

(4) a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a person younger than 18 years of age who is the victim of an offense listed in Subdivision (2); or

(5) a prosecuting attorney acting on behalf of a person described by Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4).

(b) An application for a protective order under this chapter may be filed in:

(1) a district court, juvenile court having the jurisdiction of a district court, statutory county court, or constitutional county court in:

(A) the county in which the applicant resides;

(B) the county in which the alleged offender resides; or

(C) any county in which an element of the alleged offense occurred; or

(2) any court with jurisdiction over a protective order under Title 4, Family Code, involving the same parties named in the application.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 3.05, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 882 (H.B. 1988), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 24), Sec. 2.02, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 135 (S.B. 250), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 520 (S.B. 357), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 8), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1032 (H.B. 1447), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1153 (S.B. 630), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

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 sexual assault or abuse, stalking, trafficking, 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.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 135 (S.B. 250), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 8), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

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 sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking.

(b) If the court makes a finding described by Subsection (a), the court shall issue a protective order that includes a statement of the required findings.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 882 (H.B. 1988), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 135 (S.B. 250), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 238 (H.B. 649), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.

Reenacted and amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 520 (S.B. 357), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

Reenacted and amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 8), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.

Art. 7A.035. HEARSAY STATEMENT OF CHILD VICTIM. In a hearing on an application for a protective order under this chapter, a statement that is made by a child younger than 14 years of age who is the victim of an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code, and that describes the offense committed against the child is admissible as evidence in the same manner that a child's statement regarding alleged abuse against the child is admissible under Section 104.006, Family Code, in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 981 (H.B. 1721), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Art. 7A.04. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. To the extent applicable, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, Title 4, Family Code, applies to a protective order issued under this chapter.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Art. 7A.05. CONDITIONS SPECIFIED BY ORDER. (a) In a protective order issued under this chapter, the court may:

(1) order the alleged offender to take action as specified by the court that the court determines is necessary or appropriate to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future harm to the applicant or a member of the applicant's family or household; or

(2) prohibit the alleged offender from:

(A) communicating:

(i) directly or indirectly with the applicant or any member of the applicant's family or household in a threatening or harassing manner; or

(ii) in any manner with the applicant or any member of the applicant's family or household except through the applicant's attorney or a person appointed by the court, if the court finds good cause for the prohibition;

(B) going to or near the residence, place of employment or business, or child-care facility or school of the applicant or any member of the applicant's family or household;

(C) engaging in conduct directed specifically toward the applicant or any member of the applicant's family or household, including following the person, that is reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass the person; and

(D) possessing a firearm, unless the alleged offender is a peace officer, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, actively engaged in employment as a sworn, full-time paid employee of a state agency or political subdivision.

(b) In an order under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the court shall specifically describe each prohibited location and the minimum distance from the location, if any, that the alleged offender must maintain. This subsection does not apply to an order with respect to which the court has received a request to maintain confidentiality of information revealing the locations.

(c) In a protective order, the court may suspend a license to carry a handgun issued under Section 411.177, Government Code, that is held by the alleged offender.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 520 (S.B. 357), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 760 (S.B. 893), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 437 (H.B. 910), Sec. 5, eff. January 1, 2016.

Art. 7A.06. WARNING ON PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) Each protective order issued under this chapter, including a temporary ex parte order, must contain the following prominently displayed statements in boldfaced type, capital letters, or underlined:

"A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS ORDER MAY BE PUNISHED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT BY A FINE OF AS MUCH AS $500 OR BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL FOR AS LONG AS SIX MONTHS, OR BOTH."

"NO PERSON, INCLUDING A PERSON WHO IS PROTECTED BY THIS ORDER, MAY GIVE PERMISSION TO ANYONE TO IGNORE OR VIOLATE ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER. DURING THE TIME IN WHICH THIS ORDER IS VALID, EVERY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNLESS A COURT CHANGES THE ORDER."

"IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, OTHER THAN A PEACE OFFICER, AS DEFINED BY SECTION 1.07, PENAL CODE, ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EMPLOYMENT AS A SWORN, FULL-TIME PAID EMPLOYEE OF A STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, WHO IS SUBJECT TO A PROTECTIVE ORDER TO POSSESS A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION."

(b) Each protective order issued under this chapter, except for a temporary ex parte order, must contain the following prominently displayed statement in boldfaced type, capital letters, or underlined:

"A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER BY COMMISSION OF AN ACT PROHIBITED BY THE ORDER MAY BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF AS MUCH AS $4,000 OR BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL FOR AS LONG AS ONE YEAR, OR BOTH. AN ACT THAT RESULTS IN A SEPARATE OFFENSE MAY BE PROSECUTED AS A SEPARATE OFFENSE IN ADDITION TO A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER."

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Art. 7A.07. DURATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) A protective order issued under Article 7A.03 may be effective for the duration of the lives of the offender and victim or for any shorter period stated in the order. If a period is not stated in the order, the order is effective until the second anniversary of the date the order was issued.

(b) The following persons may file at any time an application with the court to rescind the protective order:

(1) a victim of an offense listed in Article 7A.01(a)(1) who is 17 years of age or older or a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a victim who is younger than 17 years of age; or

(2) a victim of an offense listed in Article 7A.01(a)(2) or a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a victim who is younger than 18 years of age.

(c) If a person who is the subject of a protective order issued under Article 7A.03 is confined or imprisoned on the date the protective order is due to expire under Subsection (a), the period for which the order is effective is extended, and the order expires on the first anniversary of the date the person is released from confinement or imprisonment.

(d) To the extent of any conflict with Section 85.025, Family Code, this article prevails.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 882 (H.B. 1988), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 238 (H.B. 649), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 8), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.