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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to proper venue for filing an application for a protective |
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order against family violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 82.003, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 82.003. VENUE. An application may be filed in: |
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(1) the county in which the applicant resides; [or] |
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(2) the county in which the respondent resides; or |
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(3) any county in which the family violence is alleged |
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to have occurred. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a protective order that is filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. An application for a protective |
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order filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the application is filed, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |