HBA-JLV, LJP H.B. 593 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 593
By: Goodman
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
6/5/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, certain identification information was
required to be included in an application for a protective order regarding
family violence, the registration for enforcement of a support order, and a
petition for a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.  In some
counties, attorneys were searching the public records and notifying the
respondent in a case of the existence of a proceeding under the Family Code
before the service could be effected.  As a result, there were concerns
that some of the information required, especially the address, could
provide a method for an abusive spouse to locate the abused spouse.  House
Bill 593 removes the requirement that certain information be included in
specified applications and petitions to protect the location of a party
until the court can make a determination that the party's location should
be revealed. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 593 amends the Family Code to remove the requirement that
certain information be included in an application for a protective order
regarding family violence, the registration for  enforcement of a support
order, and a petition for a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
The bill removes the address requirement for an application for a
protective order and registration for enforcement of a support order. The
bill removes the requirement that the sex, age, place of birth, and place
of residence of a child be included in a petition for a suit affecting the
parent-child relationship. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.