Texas Family Code 85.022 – Requirements of Order Applying to Person Who Committed Family Violence
(a) In a protective order, the court may order the person found to have committed family violence to perform acts specified by the court that the court determines are necessary or appropriate to prevent or reduce the likelihood of family violence and may order that person to:
(1) complete a battering intervention and prevention program accredited under Article 42.141, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(2) beginning on September 1, 2008, if the referral option under Subdivision (1) is not available, complete a program or counsel with a provider that has begun the accreditation process described by Subsection (a-1); or
(3) if the referral option under Subdivision (1) or, beginning on September 1, 2008, the referral option under Subdivision (2) is not available, counsel with a social worker, family service agency, physician, psychologist, licensed therapist, or licensed professional counselor who has completed family violence intervention training that the community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has approved, after consultation with the licensing authorities described by Chapters 152, 501, 502, 503, and 505, Occupations Code, and experts in the field of family violence.
(a-1) Beginning on September 1, 2009, a program or provider serving as a referral option for the courts under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) must be accredited under Section 4A, Article 42.141, Code of Criminal Procedure, as conforming to program guidelines under that article.
Terms Used In Texas Family Code 85.022
- Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
- sworn: includes affirm or affirmed. See Texas Government Code 312.011
(b) In a protective order, the court may prohibit the person found to have committed family violence from:
(1) committing family violence;
(2) communicating:
(A) directly with a person protected by an order or a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order, in a threatening or harassing manner;
(B) a threat through any person to a person protected by an order or a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order; and
(C) if the court finds good cause, in any manner with a person protected by an order or a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order, except through the party’s attorney or a person appointed by the court;
(3) going to or near the residence or place of employment or business of a person protected by an order or a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order;
(4) going to or near the residence, child-care facility, or school a child protected under the order normally attends or in which the child normally resides;
(5) engaging in conduct directed specifically toward a person who is a person protected by an order or a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order, including following the person, that is reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass the person;
(6) possessing a firearm, unless the person is a peace officer, as defined by § 1.07, Penal Code, actively engaged in employment as a sworn, full-time paid employee of a state agency or political subdivision;
(7) harming, threatening, or interfering with the care, custody, or control of a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal, as defined by § 121.002, Human Resources Code, that is possessed by or is in the actual or constructive care of a person protected by an order or by a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order; and
(8) tracking or monitoring personal property or a motor vehicle in the possession of a person protected by an order or of a member of the family or household of a person protected by an order, without the person’s effective consent, including by:
(A) using a tracking application on a personal electronic device in the possession of the person or the family or household member or using a tracking device; or
(B) physically following the person or the family or household member or causing another to physically follow the person or member.
(c) In an order under Subsection (b)(3) or (4), the court shall specifically describe each prohibited location and the minimum distances from the location, if any, that the party must maintain. This subsection does not apply to an order in which § 85.007 applies.
(d) In a protective order, the court shall suspend a license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, that is held by a person found to have committed family violence.
(e) In this section, “firearm” has the meaning assigned by § 46.01, Penal Code.