This is a reminder of requirements that went into effect under SB 325 concerning submitting applications for Emergency Protective Orders and copies of the EPOs into the Protective Order Registry that OCA was required to establish by June 1, 2020.
Important Note: The Supreme Court has extended the date for courts to begin reporting to October 15 due to the pandemic. Here is the order: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1449663/order-209106.pdf
The new law requires the clerk of the court to enter any application for an Emergency Protective Order and any EPO that is issued or modified into the Protective Order Registry as soon as possible but not later than 24 hours after the filing of the application or issuance of the EPO.
The clerk may delay the entry only to the extent that they lack the specific information required to be entered.
If an EPO is vacated or expires, the clerk must update the status of the Order in the Registry.
Here is a link for the clerk to log in to enter the application and EPO, as well as training on how to do this: https://www.txcourts.gov/judicial-data/protective-order-registry/authorized-user-information-instructions/
Here is the link to TOPICs (Texas Online Public Information – Courts), the OCA Protective Order Registry website as the public views it: https://topics.txcourts.gov/
And this the link to the Protective Order Registry home page: https://www.txcourts.gov/judicial-data/protective-order-registry/
These requirements are set forth in Sections 72.151 – 72.158, Government Code.
Please let us know if you have any questions. You may also wish to contact OCA if you have any technical questions about how to enter the application or EPO.