S.B. No. 712
 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 712 passed the Senate on
  April 3, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 712 passed the House on
  May 9, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one present
  not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor