Bill
SB 920
85(R) - 2017
Senate Criminal Justice
House Business & Industry
Senate Criminal Justice
House Business & Industry
Law Enforcement
Personal Property
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Neutral
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Positive
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
Author(s)
John Whitmire
Sponsor(s)
Eddie Lucio III
Bill Caption
Relating to access to a residence or former residence to retrieve personal property, including access based on danger of family violence.
Fiscal Notes
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
Current law allows a person to apply for and obtain a writ authorizing them to enter their residence or former residence accompanied by a peace officer to obtain personal property items if entrance to that residence is denied by the current occupant.
SB 920 would also allow an individual to apply for a writ authorizing the applicant to enter, in the company of a peace officer, their residence or former residence if a judge finds that the current occupant poses a clear and present danger of family
violence to the applicant or the applicant’s dependent. The bill would also add "copies of electronic records containing
legal or financial documents" to the list of applicable property which may be retrieved.
Vote Recommendation Notes
It is well within the proper role of government to ensure that an individual can safely retrieve their property from a residence in which the current occupant poses a danger to the individual or a dependent. This bill promotes our principles of property rights and individual liberty. We support SB 920.
Organizations Supporting
The Texas Council on Family Violence