87R10574 ANG-D
	By: Huffman	S.B. No. 1530

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the operation and administration of and practice and
	procedure related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state
	government.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	ARTICLE 1. DISTRICT COURTS
	SECTION 1.01.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2022, Subchapter C,
	Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60022
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 24.60022.  478TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BELL COUNTY).  The
	478th Judicial District is composed of Bell County.
	(b)  The 478th Judicial District is created on January 1,
	2022.
	SECTION 1.02.  (a)  Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
	Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60025 to read as follows:
	Sec. 24.60025.  480TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON
	COUNTY).  The 480th Judicial District is composed of Williamson
	County.
	(b)  The 480th Judicial District is created on the effective
	date of this Act.
	SECTION 1.03.  (a)  Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
	Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60026 to read as follows:
	Sec. 24.60026.  481ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (DENTON COUNTY).
	The 481st Judicial District is composed of Denton County.
	(b)  The 481st Judicial District is created on the effective
	date of this Act.
	SECTION 1.04.  (a)  Section 24.910(b), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  This section applies to the Tarrant County Criminal
	District Courts Nos. 1, 2, [and] 3, and 5.
	(b)  Subchapter E, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Section 24.915 to read as follows:
	Sec. 24.915.  CRIMINAL JUDICIAL DISTRICT NO. 5 OF TARRANT
	COUNTY. (a) The Criminal Judicial District No. 5 of Tarrant County
	is composed of Tarrant County.
	(b)  Section 24.910, relating to the Tarrant County Criminal
	District Court No. 1, contains provisions applicable to both that
	court and the Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 5.
	(c)  The Criminal Judicial District No. 5 of Tarrant County
	is created on the effective date of this Act.
	ARTICLE 2. STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS
	SECTION 2.01.  (a)  Sections 25.0631(b) and (c), Government
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(b)  Denton County has the following statutory probate
	courts:
	(1)  [one statutory probate court, the] Probate Court
	of Denton County; and
	(2)  Probate Court Number 2 of Denton County.
	(c)  The statutory county courts of Denton County sit in the
	county seat or at another location in the county as assigned by the
	local administrative statutory county court judge. The statutory
	probate courts [court] of Denton County sit [sits] in the county
	seat and may conduct docket matters at other locations in the county
	as the statutory probate court judges consider [judge considers]
	necessary for the protection of wards or mental health respondents
	or as otherwise provided by law.
	(b)  Section 25.0633(e), Government Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	(e)  The County Court at Law No. 2 of Denton County has
	jurisdiction:
	(1)  over all civil causes and proceedings, original
	and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts; and
	(2)  regardless of the amount in controversy sought,
	over:
	(A)  eminent domain cases as provided by Section
	21.001, Property Code, for statutory county courts; and
	(B)  direct and inverse condemnation cases.
	(c)  The Probate Court Number 2 of Denton County is created
	on the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 2.02.  (a)  Section 25.2481, Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 25.2481.  WILLIAMSON COUNTY. Williamson County has the
	following statutory county courts:
	(1)  County Court at Law No. 1 of Williamson County;
	(2)  County Court at Law No. 2 of Williamson County;
	(3)  County Court at Law No. 3 of Williamson County;
	[and]
	(4)  County Court at Law No. 4 of Williamson County;
	and
	(5)  County Court at Law No. 5 of Williamson County.
	(b)  The County Court at Law No. 5 of Williamson County is
	created on the effective date of this Act.
	ARTICLE 3. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS
	SECTION 3.01.  Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, is amended by adding Article 45.0241 to read as follows:
	Art. 45.0241.  ACCEPTANCE OF DEFENDANT'S PLEA. A justice or
	judge may not accept a plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere
	unless it appears to the justice or judge that the defendant is
	mentally competent and the plea is free and voluntary.
	ARTICLE 4. TRANSFER OF CASES
	SECTION 4.01.  Section 155.207, Family Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 155.207.  TRANSFER OF COURT FILES. (a)  Not later than
	the 10th working day after the date an order of transfer is signed,
	the clerk of the court transferring a proceeding shall send, using
	the electronic filing system established under Section 72.031,
	Government Code, to the proper court in the county to which transfer
	is being made:
	(1)  a transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents [the pleadings in the pending proceeding and any other
	document specifically requested by a party];
	(2)  [certified copies of all entries in the minutes;
	[(3)  a certified copy of each final order; and
	[(4)]  a [certified] copy of the order of transfer
	signed by the transferring court; and
	(3)  a copy of all documents required to be transferred
	under rules adopted by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037, Government Code.
	(a-1)  The clerk of the transferring court shall use the
	standardized transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents form created by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037, Government Code, when
	transferring a proceeding under this section.
	(b)  The clerk of the transferring court shall keep a copy of
	[the] transferred pleadings [and other requested documents.  If the
	transferring court retains jurisdiction of another child who was
	the subject of the suit, the clerk shall send a copy of the
	pleadings and other requested documents to the court to which the
	transfer is made and shall keep the original pleadings and other
	requested documents].
	(c)  The [On receipt of the pleadings, documents, and orders
	from the transferring court, the] clerk of the transferee court
	shall:
	(1)  accept documents transferred under Subsection
	(a);
	(2)  docket the suit; and
	(3)  [shall] notify, using the electronic filing system
	established under Section 72.031, Government Code [the judge of the
	transferee court], all parties, the clerk of the transferring
	court, and, if appropriate, the transferring court's local registry
	that the suit has been docketed.
	(c-1)  The clerk of the transferee court shall physically or
	electronically mark or stamp the transfer certificate and index of
	transferred documents to evidence the date and time of acceptance
	under Subsection (c), but may not physically or electronically mark
	or stamp any other document transferred under Subsection (a).
	(d)  The clerk of the transferring court shall send a
	certified copy of the order directing payments to the transferee
	court:
	(1)  [,] to any party [or employer] affected by the
	[that] order, and, if appropriate, to the local registry of the
	transferee court using the electronic filing system established
	under Section 72.031, Government Code; and
	(2)  to an employer affected by the order
	electronically or by first class mail.
	(e)  The clerks of both the transferee and transferring
	courts may each produce under Chapter 51, Government Code,
	certified or uncertified copies of documents filed in a case
	transferred under this section, but shall also include a copy of the
	transfer certificate and index of transferred documents with each
	document produced.
	(f)  Sections 80.001 and 80.002, Government Code, do not
	apply to the transfer of documents under this section.
	SECTION 4.02.  Section 51.3071, Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.3071.  TRANSFER OF CASES.  (a) If a case is
	transferred from a district court to a county court, the clerk of
	the district court shall [may] send to the county clerk using the
	electronic filing system established under Section 72.031 [in
	electronic or paper form]:
	(1)  a transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents [certified transcript of the proceedings held in the
	district court];
	(2)  a copy of the order of transfer signed by the
	transferring court [the original papers filed in the district
	court]; and
	(3)  a copy of all documents required to be transferred
	under rules adopted by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037 [a bill of the costs that
	have accrued in the district court].
	(b)  The clerk of the transferring court shall use the
	standardized transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents form created by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037 when transferring a case
	under this section.
	(c)  The clerk of the transferee court shall accept documents
	transferred under Subsection (a) and docket the case.
	(d)  The clerk of the transferee court shall physically or
	electronically mark or stamp the transfer certificate and index of
	transferred documents to evidence the date and time of acceptance
	under Subsection (c), but may not physically or electronically mark
	or stamp any other document transferred under Subsection (a).
	(e)  Sections 80.001 and 80.002 do not apply to the transfer
	of documents under this section.
	SECTION 4.03.  Section 51.403, Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.403.  TRANSFER OF CASES. (a)  If a case is
	transferred from a county court to a district court, the clerk of
	the county court shall send to the district clerk using the
	electronic filing system established under Section 72.031 [in
	electronic or paper form]:
	(1)  a transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents [certified transcript of the proceedings held in the
	county court];
	(2)  a copy of the order of transfer signed by the
	transferring court [the original papers filed in the county court];
	and
	(3)  a copy of all documents required to be transferred
	under rules adopted by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037 [a bill of the costs that
	have accrued in the county court].
	(a-1)  The clerk of the transferring court shall use the
	standardized transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents form created by the Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System under Section 72.037 when transferring a case
	under this section.
	(a-2)  The clerk of the transferee court shall accept
	documents transferred under Subsection (a) and docket the case.
	(a-3)  The clerk of the transferee court shall physically or
	electronically mark or stamp the transfer certificate and index of
	transferred documents to evidence the date and time of acceptance
	under Subsection (a-2), but may not physically or electronically
	mark or stamp any other document transferred under Subsection (a).
	(b)  If civil or criminal jurisdiction of a county court is
	transferred to a district court, the clerk of the county court shall
	send using the electronic filing system established under Section
	72.031 a certified copy of the judgments rendered in the county
	court that remain unsatisfied [, in electronic or paper form,] to
	the district clerks of the appropriate counties.
	(c)  Sections 80.001 and 80.002 do not apply to the transfer
	of documents under this section.
	SECTION 4.04.  Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 72.037 to read as follows:
	Sec. 72.037.  PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFER OF CASES AND
	PROCEEDINGS. (a)  The office shall adopt rules prescribing the
	documents to be transferred between courts when a transfer of a case
	or proceeding is ordered under Section 155.207, Family Code, or
	Section 51.3071 or 51.403 of this code.
	(b)  Rules adopted under this section must require the
	transfer of the following documents relating to a transferred case
	or proceeding:
	(1)  a copy of the original papers filed in the
	transferring court;
	(2)  a copy of each final order;
	(3)  a copy of the transfer certificate and index of
	transferred documents from each previous transfer; and
	(4)  a bill of any costs that have accrued in the
	transferring court.
	(c)  The office shall develop and make available a
	standardized transfer certificate and index of transferred
	documents form to be used for the transfer of cases and proceedings
	under Section 155.207, Family Code, and Sections 51.3071 and 51.403
	of this code.
	(d)  In adopting rules and developing forms under this
	section, the office shall consult with representatives of county
	and district clerks.
	SECTION 4.05.  As soon as practicable after the effective
	date of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
	Judicial System shall adopt rules and develop and make available
	all forms and materials required by Section 72.037, Government
	Code, as added by this Act.
	ARTICLE 5. HABEAS CORPUS
	SECTION 5.01.  Section 5(a), Article 11.072, Code of
	Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Immediately on filing an application, the applicant
	shall serve a copy of the application on the attorney representing
	the state[,] by:
	(1)  [either] certified mail, return receipt
	requested;
	(2)  [, or] personal service; or
	(3)  the secure electronic mail the attorney has on
	file with the electronic filing system as required under Section
	80.003, Government Code, or another form of secure electronic
	transmission.
	SECTION 5.02.  Section 5(a), Article 11.072, Code of
	Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, applies only to an
	application for a writ of habeas corpus filed on or after the
	effective date of this Act. An application filed before the
	effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the
	application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
	that purpose.
	ARTICLE 6. PUBLICATION OF CITATION FOR RECEIVERSHIP
	SECTION 6.01.  Section 64.101(c), Civil Practice and
	Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(c)  Except as provided by Section 17.032, the [The] citation
	shall be published on the public information Internet website
	maintained as required by Section 72.034, Government Code, and in a
	newspaper of general circulation:
	(1)  once in the county in which the missing person
	resides; and
	(2)  once in each county in which property of the
	missing person's estate is located.
	SECTION 6.02.  Section 51.103(b), Estates Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Proof of service consists of:
	(1)  if the service is made by a sheriff or constable,
	the return of service;
	(2)  if the service is made by a private person, the
	person's statement [affidavit];
	(3)  if the service is made by mail:
	(A)  the certificate of the county clerk making
	the service, or the statement [affidavit] of the personal
	representative or other person making the service, stating that the
	citation or notice was mailed and the date of the mailing; and
	(B)  the return receipt attached to the
	certificate or affidavit, as applicable, if the mailing was by
	registered or certified mail and a receipt has been returned; and
	(4)  if the service is made by publication:
	(A)  a statement [an affidavit]:
	(i)  made by the Office of Court
	Administration of the Texas Judicial System or an employee of the
	office;
	(ii)  that contains or to which is attached a
	copy of the published citation or notice; and
	(iii)  that states the date of publication
	on the public information Internet website maintained as required
	by Section 72.034, Government Code; and
	(B)  a statement [an affidavit]:
	(i)  made by the publisher of the newspaper
	in which the citation or notice was published or an employee of the
	publisher;
	(ii)  that contains or to which is attached a
	copy of the published citation or notice; and
	(iii)  that states the date of publication
	printed on the newspaper in which the citation or notice was
	published.
	SECTION 6.03.  Section 1051.153(b), Estates Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Proof of service consists of:
	(1)  if the service is made by a sheriff or constable,
	the return of service;
	(2)  if the service is made by a private person, the
	person's affidavit;
	(3)  if the service is made by mail:
	(A)  the certificate of the county clerk making
	the service, or the statement [affidavit] of the guardian or other
	person making the service that states that the citation or notice
	was mailed and the date of the mailing; and
	(B)  the return receipt attached to the
	certificate, if the mailing was by registered or certified mail and
	a receipt has been returned; and
	(4)  if the service is made by publication:
	(A)  a statement [an affidavit] that:
	(i)  is made by the Office of Court
	Administration of the Texas Judicial System or an employee of the
	office;
	(ii)  contains or to which is attached a copy
	of the published citation or notice; and
	(iii)  states the date of publication on the
	public information Internet website maintained as required by
	Section 72.034, Government Code; and
	(B)  a statement [an affidavit] that:
	(i)  is made by the publisher of the
	newspaper in which the citation or notice was published or an
	employee of the publisher;
	(ii)  contains or to which is attached a copy
	of the published citation or notice; and
	(iii)  states the date of publication
	printed on the newspaper in which the citation or notice was
	published.
	ARTICLE 7.  EVIDENCE
	SECTION 7.01.  Section 2, Article 38.01, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as
	follows:
	(4-a)  "Forensic examination or test not subject to
	accreditation" means an examination or test described by Article
	38.35(a)(4)(A), (B), (C), or (D) that is exempt from accreditation.
	SECTION 7.02.  Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended by adding Section 3-b to read as follows:
	Sec. 3-b.  CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. (a)  The
	commission shall adopt a code of professional responsibility to
	regulate the conduct of persons, laboratories, facilities, and
	other entities regulated under this article.
	(b)  The commission shall publish the code of professional
	responsibility adopted under Subsection (a).
	(c)  The commission shall adopt rules establishing sanctions
	for code violations.
	(d)  The commission shall update the code of professional
	responsibility as necessary to reflect changes in science,
	technology, or other factors affecting the persons, laboratories,
	facilities, and other entities regulated under this article.
	SECTION 7.03.  Sections 4(a), (a-1), (b-1), and (c), Article
	38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The commission shall:
	(1)  develop and implement a reporting system through
	which a crime laboratory may report professional negligence or
	professional misconduct;
	(2)  require a crime laboratory that conducts forensic
	analyses to report professional negligence or professional
	misconduct to the commission; and
	(3)  investigate, in a timely manner, any allegation of
	professional negligence or professional misconduct that would
	substantially affect the integrity of:
	(A)  the results of a forensic analysis conducted
	by a crime laboratory;
	(B)  an examination or test that is conducted by a
	crime laboratory and that is a forensic examination or test not
	subject to accreditation; or
	(C)  testimony related to an analysis,
	examination, or test described by Paragraph (A) or (B).
	(a-1)  The commission may initiate [for educational
	purposes] an investigation of a forensic analysis or a forensic
	examination or test not subject to accreditation, without receiving
	a complaint[,] submitted through the reporting system implemented
	under Subsection (a)(1), [that contains an allegation of
	professional negligence or professional misconduct involving the
	forensic analysis conducted] if the commission determines by a
	majority vote of a quorum of the members of the commission that an
	investigation of the [forensic] analysis, examination, or test
	would advance the integrity and reliability of forensic science in
	this state.
	(b-1)  If the commission conducts an investigation under
	Subsection (a)(3) of a crime laboratory that is not accredited
	under this article or the investigation involves a forensic
	examination or test not subject to accreditation [is conducted
	pursuant to an allegation involving a forensic method or
	methodology that is not an accredited field of forensic science],
	the investigation may include the preparation of a written report
	that contains:
	(1)  observations of the commission regarding the
	integrity and reliability of the applicable [forensic] analysis,
	examination, or test conducted;
	(2)  best practices identified by the commission during
	the course of the investigation; or
	(3)  other recommendations that are relevant, as
	determined by the commission.
	(c)  The commission by contract may delegate the duties
	described by Subsections (a)(1) and (3) and Sections 4-d(b)(1),
	(b-1), and (d) to any person the commission determines to be
	qualified to assume those duties.
	SECTION 7.04.  Section 4-a(c), Article 38.01, Code of
	Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
	(c)  The commission by rule may establish voluntary
	licensing programs for forensic examinations or tests [disciplines
	that are] not subject to accreditation [under this article].
	SECTION 7.05.  Section 4-d(b-1), Article 38.01, Code of
	Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
	(b-1)  As part of the accreditation process established and
	implemented under Subsection (b), the commission may:
	(1)  establish minimum standards that relate to the
	timely production of a forensic analysis to the agency requesting
	the analysis and that are consistent with this article and
	applicable laws;
	(2)  validate or approve specific forensic methods or
	methodologies; and
	(3)  establish procedures, policies, standards, and
	practices to improve the quality of forensic analyses conducted in
	this state.
	SECTION 7.06.  Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended by adding Section 14 to read as follows:
	Sec. 14.  FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION. The
	commission may use appropriated funds for the training and
	education of forensic analysts.
	SECTION 7.07.  Section 2254.002(2), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(2)  "Professional services" means services:
	(A)  within the scope of the practice, as defined
	by state law, of:
	(i)  accounting;
	(ii)  architecture;
	(iii)  landscape architecture;
	(iv)  land surveying;
	(v)  medicine;
	(vi)  optometry;
	(vii)  professional engineering;
	(viii)  real estate appraising; [or]
	(ix)  professional nursing; or
	(x)  forensic science;
	(B)  provided in connection with the professional
	employment or practice of a person who is licensed or registered as:
	(i)  a certified public accountant;
	(ii)  an architect;
	(iii)  a landscape architect;
	(iv)  a land surveyor;
	(v)  a physician, including a surgeon;
	(vi)  an optometrist;
	(vii)  a professional engineer;
	(viii)  a state certified or state licensed
	real estate appraiser; [or]
	(ix)  a registered nurse; or
	(x)  a forensic analyst or forensic science
	expert; or
	(C)  provided by a person lawfully engaged in
	interior design, regardless of whether the person is registered as
	an interior designer under Chapter 1053, Occupations Code.
	ARTICLE 8.  JURY SERVICE
	SECTION 8.01.  Sections 61.003(a) and (c), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Each person who reports for jury service shall be
	personally provided a form letter that when signed by the person
	directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount
	designated by the person, of the person's daily reimbursement under
	this chapter to:
	(1)  the compensation to victims of crime fund
	established under Subchapter J, Chapter 56B, Code of Criminal
	Procedure;
	(2)  the child welfare, child protective services, or
	child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005,
	Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children;
	(3)  any program selected by the commissioners court
	that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
	that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
	(4)  any other program approved by the commissioners
	court of the county, including a program established under Article
	56A.205, Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological
	counseling in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or
	testimony; [or]
	(5)  a veterans court treatment program established by
	the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124; or
	(6)  a veterans county service office established by
	the commissioners court as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 434.
	(c)  The county treasurer shall:
	(1)  send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1) to
	the comptroller, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the
	attorney general, for deposit to the credit of the compensation to
	victims of crime fund;
	(2)  deposit donations made to the county child welfare
	board under Subsection (a)(2) in a fund established by the county to
	be used by the child welfare board in a manner authorized by the
	commissioners court of the county; and
	(3)  send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3),
	[or] (a)(4), or (a)(6) directly to the program or office, as
	applicable, specified on the form letter signed by the person who
	reported for jury service.
	ARTICLE 9.  SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS
	SECTION 9.01.  Chapter 121, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Sections 121.003 and 121.004 to read as follows:
	Sec. 121.003.  APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDING JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE
	FOR REGIONAL SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM. A judge or magistrate of a
	district court or statutory county court who is authorized by law to
	hear criminal cases may be appointed to preside over a regional
	specialty court program recognized under this subtitle only if:
	(1)  the local administrative district and statutory
	county court judges of each county participating in the program
	approve the appointment by majority vote or another approval method
	selected by the judges; and
	(2)  the presiding judges of each of the administrative
	judicial regions in which the participating counties are located
	sign an order granting the appointment.
	Sec. 121.004.  JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OF JUDGE OR
	MAGISTRATE IN REGIONAL SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM. (a) A judge or
	magistrate appointed to preside over a regional specialty court
	program may hear any misdemeanor or felony case properly
	transferred to the program by an originating trial court
	participating in the program, regardless of whether the originating
	trial court and specialty court program are in the same county. The
	appointed judge or magistrate may exercise only the authority
	granted under this subtitle.
	(b)  The judge or magistrate of a regional specialty court
	program may for a case properly transferred to the program:
	(1)  enter orders, judgments, and decrees for the case;
	(2)  sign orders of detention, order community service,
	or impose other reasonable and necessary sanctions;
	(3)  send recommendations for dismissal and expunction
	to the originating trial court for a defendant who successfully
	completes the program; and
	(4)  return the case and documentation required by this
	subtitle to the originating trial court for final disposition on a
	defendant's successful completion of or removal from the program.
	(c)  A visiting judge assigned to preside over a regional
	specialty court program has the same authority as the judge or
	magistrate appointed to preside over the program.
	SECTION 9.02.  Section 124.003(b), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A veterans treatment court program established under
	this chapter shall make, establish, and publish local procedures to
	ensure maximum participation of eligible defendants in the program
	[county or counties in which those defendants reside].
	SECTION 9.03.  Sections 124.006(a) and (d), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A veterans treatment court program that accepts
	placement of a defendant may transfer responsibility for
	supervising the defendant's participation in the program to another
	veterans treatment court program that is located in the county
	where the defendant works or resides or in a county adjacent to the
	county where the defendant works or resides. The defendant's
	supervision may be transferred under this section only with the
	consent of both veterans treatment court programs and the
	defendant.
	(d)  If a defendant is charged with an offense in a county
	that does not operate a veterans treatment court program, the court
	in which the criminal case is pending may place the defendant in a
	veterans treatment court program located in the county where the
	defendant works or resides or in a county adjacent to the county
	where the defendant works or resides, provided that a program is
	operated in that county and the defendant agrees to the placement.
	A defendant placed in a veterans treatment court program in
	accordance with this subsection must agree to abide by all rules,
	requirements, and instructions of the program.
	SECTION 9.04.  (a)  Section 121.003, Government Code, as
	added by this Act, applies only to the appointment of a judge or
	magistrate to preside over a regional specialty court program that
	occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
	(b)  Section 121.004, Government Code, as added by this Act,
	applies to a case pending in a regional specialty court program on
	or after the effective date of this Act.
	ARTICLE 10.  PROTECTIVE ORDERS
	SECTION 10.01.  Section 72.151(3), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(3)  "Protective order" means:
	(A)  an order issued by a court in this state under
	Chapter 83 or 85, Family Code, to prevent family violence, as
	defined by Section 71.004, Family Code;
	(B)  an order issued by a court in this state under
	Subchapter A, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, to prevent
	sexual assault or abuse, stalking, trafficking, or other harm to
	the applicant; or
	(C)  [.  The term includes] a magistrate's order
	for emergency protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of
	Criminal Procedure, with respect to a person who is arrested for an
	offense involving family violence.
	SECTION 10.02.  Section 72.152, Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 72.152.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
	to:
	(1)  an application for a protective order filed under:
	(A)  Chapter 82, Family Code;
	(B)  Subchapter A, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal
	Procedure; or
	(C) [(B)]  Article 17.292, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, with respect to a person who is arrested for an offense
	involving family violence; and
	(2)  a protective order issued under:
	(A)  Chapter 83 or 85, Family Code;
	(B)  Subchapter A, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal
	Procedure; or
	(C) [(B)]  Article 17.292, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, with respect to a person who is arrested for an offense
	involving family violence.
	SECTION 10.03.  Sections 72.154(b) and (d), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(b)  Publicly accessible information regarding each
	protective order must consist of the following:
	(1)  the court that issued the protective order;
	(2)  the case number;
	(3)  the full name, county of residence, birth year,
	and race or ethnicity of the person who is the subject of the
	protective order;
	(4)  the dates the protective order was issued and
	served; and
	(5)  [the date the protective order was vacated, if
	applicable; and
	[(6)]  the date the protective order expired or will
	expire, as applicable.
	(d)  The office may not allow a member of the public to access
	through the registry any information related to a protective order
	issued under Article 7B.002 or 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure,
	or Chapter 83, Family Code.
	SECTION 10.04.  Section 72.155(a), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The registry must include a copy of each application for
	a protective order filed in this state and a copy of each protective
	order issued in this state, including an [a vacated or] expired
	order. Only an authorized user, the attorney general, a district
	attorney, a criminal district attorney, a county attorney, a
	municipal attorney, or a peace officer may access that information
	under the registry.
	SECTION 10.05.  Section 72.157, Government Code, is amended
	by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
	follows:
	(b)  For a protective order [that is vacated or] that has
	expired, the clerk of the applicable court shall modify the record
	of the order in the registry to reflect the order's status as
	[vacated or] expired.
	(b-1)  For a protective order that is vacated, the clerk of
	the applicable court shall remove the record of the order from the
	registry.
	SECTION 10.06.  Section 72.158(a), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The office shall ensure that the public may access
	information about protective orders, other than information about
	orders under Article 7B.002 or 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure,
	or Chapter 83, Family Code, through the registry, only if:
	(1)  a protected person requests that the office grant
	the public the ability to access the information described by
	Section 72.154(b) for the order protecting the person; and
	(2)  the office approves the request.
	SECTION 10.07.  Section 72.152, Government Code, as amended
	by this Act, applies only to an application for a protective order
	filed or a protective order issued on or after the effective date of
	this Act.
	SECTION 10.08.  As soon as practicable after the effective
	date of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
	Judicial System shall remove the record of any protective orders
	that have been vacated from the protective order registry
	established under Subchapter F, Chapter 72, Government Code, as
	amended by this Act.
	ARTICLE 11.  TRANSITION
	SECTION 11.01.  A state agency subject to this Act is
	required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
	legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If
	the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
	purpose, the state agency may, but is not required to, implement a
	provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
	purpose.
	ARTICLE 12. EFFECTIVE DATE
	SECTION 12.01.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
	this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.