AUSTIN, TX - Yesterday, Senate Bill 712 authored by Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa was voted out of the Senate and will advance to the House for consideration. SB 712 allows additional circumstances under which a judge may choose to enter a protective order in excess of 2 years if an offender commits an act(s) constituting felony-level family violence.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"SB 712 is an important protection for victims of domestic violence. Currently, a "permanent" protective order in Texas lasts up to two years. Courts may allow long-term protective orders, if there have been either two prior protective orders involving the same parties or if the offender has caused serious bodily injury to the victim.

However, these two options do not include lethal family violence felony offenses such as strangulation, continuous violence against the family, continuous violation of a protective order, or enhanced assault family violence, among other felonies. SB 712 will now include these offenses to better protect victims."

In Texas, 158 women were killed by their intimate partner and 1 in 3 adult women are victims of family violence. The most dangerous time for victims are the weeks leading up to their escape and the weeks following.

In addition to SB 712, Senator Hinojosa is working alongside fellow Nueces County lawmakers, Rep. Todd Hunter and Rep. Abel Herrero, to move a number of bills forward to end family violence. The lawmakers have also worked closely with the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Women’s Shelter of South Texas in finding the best ways to end domestic abuse.

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