H.B. No. 3698

	AN ACT
	relating to expanding access to the protective order registry and
	the inclusion of certain information regarding a person who is the
	subject of a protective order in that registry.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 72.154(a), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Subject to Subsections (c) and (d) and Section 72.158,
	the office shall establish and maintain the registry in a manner
	that allows a member of the public, free of charge, to
	electronically search for and receive publicly accessible
	information contained in the registry regarding each protective
	order issued in this state.  The registry must be searchable by:
	(1)  the county of issuance;
	(2)  the name of a person who is the subject of the
	protective order; [and]
	(3)  any known common misspellings of the name of a
	person who is the subject of the protective order;
	(4)  any known aliases of a person who is the subject of
	the protective order; and
	(5)  the birth year of a person who is the subject of
	the protective order.
	SECTION 2.  Section 72.155, Government Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 72.155.  RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
	REGISTRY.  (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 expired order,
	or a vacated order other than an order that was vacated as the
	result of an appeal or bill of review from a district or county
	court.  Only an authorized user, the attorney general, a district
	attorney, a criminal district attorney, a county attorney, a
	municipal attorney, a magistrate, or a peace officer may access
	that information under the registry.
	(b)  The office shall ensure that an authorized user, the
	attorney general, a district attorney, a criminal district
	attorney, a county attorney, a municipal attorney, a magistrate, or
	a peace officer is able to search for and receive a copy of a filed
	application for a protective order or a copy of an issued protective
	order through the registry's Internet website.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3698 was passed by the House on April
	20, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3698 was passed by the Senate on May
	17, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor