An Order of Nondisclosure is a judicial order that seals from the public all records related to a Texas criminal arrest and prosecution. Getting your record nondisclosed won’t make the records go away entirely, as law enforcement and certain public and quasi-public agencies will still have access to the records. But obtaining an Order of Nondisclosure may help you get jobs, qualify for apartments and live more happily.
NONDISCLOSURE ATTORNEY FAQs
- Am I eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure?
- How do I get an Order of Nondisclosure
- Who can still see my record?
- Can a judge deny my petition for Nondisclosure?
- Is there a waiting period to petition the court for Nondisclosure?
- How much does it cost to petition the court for an Order of Nondisclosure?
- What changed in the 2015 law?
- What changed in the 2017 law?
The Nondisclosure law was updated in 2015 and again in 2017, and as a result of these changes, there are many new cases that are eligible for nondisclosure. The law was updated again in the 86th Texas Legislature, effective June 2019. These changes primarily concern nondisclosure for victims of trafficking offenses.
Beginning in 2017, these new nondisclosure eligibility scenarios are applicable retroactively to older cases. Also, some offenses now are “automatically” nondisclosed (but don’t let that mislead you – you still have to request the order of nondisclosure and provide evidence that you are eligible for automatic disclosure, which is almost the same as petitioning the court for an order of nondisclosure). Records related to other offenses, even if you were convicted, may now be eligible to be nondisclosed.
Do you need to obtain an Order of Nondisclosure to seal your record? Call nondisclosure lawyer Paul Saputo at (888) 239-9305.
The 2017 update to the nondisclosure law came in the form of House Bill 3016, which took effect on September 1, 2017.1 With the new law, some people who were convicted of DWIs may be eligible for nondisclosure. In addition, the 2017 law repealed the limitation imposed by the 2015 update that made the new eligibility options applicable only to offenses on or after September 1, 2015.2 Learn more detailed information about eligibility for Orders of Nondisclosure below.
Am I eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure?
Current Nondisclosure Law, Effective September 1, 2017
There are seven different categories of nondisclosure eligibility circumstances under the current law, effective September 1, 2017. The categories are as follows:
- “Automatic” Nondisclosure for Certain Misdemeanor Deferred Dismissals – Sec. 411.072
- Standard Nondisclosure for Deferred Dismissals – Sec. 411.0725
- Sex Trafficking Victim Nondisclosures after Judicial Clemency – Sec. 411.0728
- Nondisclosure after Straight Probation for Certain Misdemeanors – Sec. 411.073
- Nondisclosure after DWI Probation – Sec. 411.0731
- Nondisclosure after DWI Jail Sentence – Sec. 411.0736
- Nondisclosure after Confinement (or otherwise ineligible under 411.073) for Certain Misdemeanors – Sec. 411.0735
The Section 411.074 Limitation
All of these categories are subject to the limitations provided in Section 411.074, which says that you are not eligible for a nondisclosure if you were convicted of or placed on deferred probation for any offense (other than a traffic ticket) while you were on probation, after the court pronounced sentence or during any applicable waiting period. In addition, this provision disqualifies you from receiving an order of nondisclosure if you have even been convicted of or placed on deferred probation for: (1) a registrable sex offense; (2) any Aggravated Kidnapping offense; (3) Murder, Capital Murder, Trafficking of Persons, Continuous Trafficking of Persons, Injury to a Child, Abandoning or Endangering a Child, Violation of Certain Court Orders or Conditions of Bond in a Family Violence, Sexual Assault or Abuse, Stalking, or Trafficking Case, Repeated Violation of Certain Court Orders or Conditions of Bond in Family Violence, Sexual Assault or Abuse Stalking, or Trafficking Case or Stalking; or (4) any other offense involving family violence. Also, Section 411.074 gives the judge considering your petition for nondisclosure the authority to deny your petition by making a finding that the offense involved family violence, even if there was no such finding at the time you entered the plea or were convicted.
Remember, just because you are eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure does not mean you are guaranteed an Order of Nondisclosure. Most of the eligibility categories still require a judge to find that granting the Order of Nondisclosure is in the best interest of justice. In addition, not all offenses qualify for nondisclosure under the current law, and there are exceptions even when the offense does qualify. Learn more about this below.
Legislative History
Under the law that was in effect until September 1, 2015, the only circumstance in which you could get an offense nondisclosed was that you had received (and successfully completed) deferred adjudication probation. However, beginning in September 2015, there were situations in which you would be eligible for nondisclosure even if you had not received deferred probation, and had been convicted.3 The 2015 expansion applied only to offenses that had occurred after 2015. Learn more about the 2015 law
But beginning in September 2017, with the passage of House Bill 3016, 85th Texas Legislature, the offense date does not matter for the purposes of nondisclosure eligibility.4 In addition, there are new categories of eligibility that allow for nondisclosure of certain DWI convictions. Learn more about the changes made by the 2017 law
Eligibility Categories
“Automatic” Nondisclosure for Certain Misdemeanor Deferred Dismissals
The requirements for this category of nondisclosure eligibility are that you (1) received deferred adjudication probation for a misdemeanor, (2) the misdemeanor was not a prohibited misdemeanor (a misdemeanor under Penal Code chapters 20 (including Kidnapping, Unlawful Restraint and Smuggling of Persons), 22 (“assaultive offenses”), 21 (sexual offenses), 25, 42, 43, 46, or 71, or a misdemeanor in which there was an affirmative finding that it would not be in best interest of justice for you to receive a nondisclosure), and (3) you have never been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense other than a traffic offense that is punishable by fine only.5
One important note about these types of nondisclosures, the “automatic” nondisclosure doesn’t automatically happen. It is important to note that the law says that you must present “any evidence necessary to establish” that you are eligible for an automatic nondisclosure.6 In addition, you have to meet the requirements of Section 411.0747 (see above for an explanation of 411.074).
This category of eligibility was created in 2015 and codified at Government Code 411.072.
If a judge did find that it would not be in best interest of justice for you to receive a nondisclosure when you plead, you can still apply for a nondisclosure under the standard nondisclosure for dismissals as described below.8
Standard Nondisclosure for Deferred Dismissals
The requirements for this category of nondisclosure eligibility are that you (1) received deferred adjudication probation (for either a misdemeanor or a felony),9 (2) you are not eligible for a nondisclosure under 411.072 (as described above),10 (3) you have obtained a discharge and dismissal11 and (3) you meet the requirements of Section 411.07412 (see above).
Sex Trafficking Victim Nondisclosures after Judicial Clemency
The requirements for this category of nondisclosure eligibility are that you (1) were convicted of Prostitution, (2) were placed on probation and (3) the conviction was set aside through judicial clemency.13 In addition to meeting the 411.074 requirement, the law says that the petition must be “on the grounds that the person committed the offense solely as a victim of trafficking of persons.”14
Nondisclosure after Straight Probation for Certain Misdemeanors
The requirements for this category of nondisclosure eligibility are that (1) you were convicted and placed on probation for a misdemeanor, (2) the misdemeanor was not a prohibited misdemeanor (a misdemeanor under Section 106.041, Alcoholic Beverage Code, Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, or 49.065, Penal Code, or Chapter 71, Penal Code), (3) you completed the period of community supervision and it was not revoked, (4) you have never been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense other than an offense under the Transportation Code that is punishable by fine only, and (5) you meet the requirements of Section 411.074.15
Nondisclosure after DWI Probation
H.B. 3016, 85th Texas Legislature, created a new category of nondisclosure eligibility for DWI probation cases. Prior to the passage of this law, there was no way to nondisclose any DWI convictions. This is a major update to the law that will affect tens of thousands of people.
The rules for this new category of nondisclosure eligibility are somewhat complex. First of all, the DWI conviction had to be a DWI 1st (not a DWI 2nd or 3rd or more) without the enhancement for alcohol concentration levels of 0.15 or more.16 You must have spent at least some time on community supervision (there is a separate category of nondisclosures available for DWI convictions resulting in jail time only – see below).17 Your community supervision must not have been revoked, and it must be entirely completed, including payment of all fines and court costs.18 All of the requirements imposed by 411.074 (discussed above) must be met,19 and you must never have been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense (other than a traffic ticket).20 Finally, the state can prevent you from obtaining the nondisclosure if the DWI resulted in a motor vehicle accident involving another person, including a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by the person seeking the order of nondisclosure.21 So, if there was an accident you can still qualify so long as you didn’t hit another vehicle (with a person inside of it) and you didn’t have a passenger.
Along with these eligibility requirements, there is a waiting period of either two years or five years after discharge from probation. Learn about the applicable waiting period below
Nondisclosure after Confinement for Certain Misdemeanors
The requirements for this category of nondisclosure eligibility are that (1) you were convicted, ineligible for nondisclosure under 411.073, and released from confinement (under the 2017 update in H.B. 3016, there is no requirement that you were sentenced to confinement but all fines, costs, and restitution imposed must have been paid22), (2) the misdemeanor was not a prohibited misdemeanor (a misdemeanor under Section 106.041, Alcoholic Beverage Code, Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, or 49.065, Penal Code, or Chapter 71, Penal Code), (3) you are not eligible under 411.073 above, (4) you have never been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense other than a traffic offense that is punishable by fine only (under the 2017 update in H.B. 3016, the exception applies only to traffic ticket instead of all Transportation Code offenses23), and (5) you meet the requirements of Section 411.074.24
Under the 2017 update in H.B. 3016, a court may not issue an order of nondisclosure if the court determines that the offense for which the order is sought, other than an offense under Section 22.01, Penal Code, was violent or sexual in nature.25 This does not prevent you from applying, but if a judge makes this determination after you have petitioned the court, the court can deny the nondisclosure to you.
Nondisclosure after DWI Jail Sentences
H.B. 3016 created a new category of nondisclosure eligibility for DWI jail cases. Prior to the passage of this law, there was no way to nondisclose any DWI convictions. This is a major update to the law that will affect tens of thousands of people.
The rules for this new category of nondisclosure eligibility are somewhat complex. First of all, the DWI conviction had to be a DWI 1st (not a DWI 2nd or 3rd or more).26 You must not be eligible under 411.0731 (described above – it’s the DWI probation eligibility section).27 Your sentence must be entirely completed, including payment of all fines and court costs.28 All of the requirements imposed by 411.074 (discussed above) must be met29 and you must never have been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense (other than a traffic ticket).30 Finally, the state can prevent you from obtaining the nondisclosure if the DWI resulted in a motor vehicle accident involving another person, including a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by the person seeking the order of nondisclosure.31 So, if there was an accident you can still qualify so long as you didn’t hit another vehicle (with a person inside of it) and you didn’t have a passenger.
Along with these eligibility requirements, there is a waiting period of either three years or five years after the completion of your sentence. Learn about the applicable waiting period below
How do I get an Order of Nondisclosure
Under most circumstances, you have to file a Petition for and Order of Nondisclosure and pay a fee. However, for 411.072 nondisclosures, you only have to provide evidence and make a request for a nondisclosure. Do not try to do the petition for a nondisclosure on your own. Certain forms found on the internet or provided by courts have language that may not cover your particular situation, and in many cases there are important pieces missing that might leave portions of your record unsealed.
Also under most circumstances, you have to provide notice to the state, set a hearing date, convince the judge that you are entitled to file the petition and that issuance of the order is in the best interest of justice. Not all judges make this easy. If you are unable to do this, the clerk may not refund your filing fee, and you may be unable to petition the court again for some time.
Who can still see my record?
The court may disclose information contained in the court records that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information only to: (1) criminal justice agencies for criminal justice or regulatory licensing purposes; (2) an agency or entity listed in Section 411.0765; or (3) the person who is the subject of the order.32 Under Section 411.0765, law enforcement entities may disclose criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure to other criminal justice agencies and the noncriminal justice agencies listed in subsection (b) of Section 411.0765. Furthermore, under H.B. 3016, effective September 1, 2017, law enforcement entities may disclose criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure for the purpose of complying with a requirement under federal law or if federal law requires the disclosure as a condition of receiving federal highway funds.33
Can a judge deny my petition for Nondisclosure?
Except for the “Automatic” nondisclosures under 411.072, you have to convince the court that it is in the best interest of justice to grant your Petition for and Order of Nondisclosure. Each category of nondisclosure requires the court to find that issuance of the order is in the best interest of justice. So yes, a judge may deny your petition if the court finds that issuance of the order is not in the best interest of justice.
In addition, if you have not provided the correct information or you have relied on the wrong category of eligibility or you have drafted the petition and order incorrectly, a court may not grant your petition. Of course, the court may also not grant your petition if you are not eligible. Learn more about the categories of eligibility
Is there a waiting period to petition the court for Nondisclosure?
There are waiting periods required before filing a petition for an order of nondisclosure under many circumstances. The applicable waiting period depends on the particular category of eligibility in addition to the type of offense.
For “automatic” nondisclosures under Section 411.072: there is a 180-day waiting period from the date of the beginning of community supervision.34
For standard nondisclosures under Section 411.0725 (offense date on or after September 1, 2015): there is a five-year waiting period (after discharge and dismissal) for felonies, and (2) there is a two-year waiting period for misdemeanors under Chapter 20, 21, 22, 25, 42, 43 or 46, Penal Code; there are no waiting periods on other misdemeanors.35 Note that Chapter 43 is included here, but not in the two-year waiting period under the old law.
For sex trafficking victim nondisclosures under Section 411.0728: there is no waiting period, but the conviction must have already been set aside.36
For nondisclosures after straight probation under Section 411.073: there is a two-year waiting period for misdemeanors under Chapter 20, 21, 22, 25, 42, 43 or 46, Penal Code; there are no waiting periods on other misdemeanors.37
For nondisclosures after DWI Probation under Section 411.0731: there is a waiting period of either two years or five years after the date of discharge from community supervision. If an interlock ignition device (aka a deep lung device) was required as a condition of probation for six months or more, then the waiting period is only two years.38 If not, the waiting period is five years.39
For nondisclosures after confinement under Section 411.0735: there is a two-year waiting period after release from confinement under the 2015 law.40 However, in the 2017 update in H.B. 3016, you can petition for nondisclosure immediately after you completed your sentence if the offense was a misdemeanor punishable by fine only.41 Otherwise, the two year waiting period is still applicable.42
For nondisclosures after DWI Jail Sentences under Section 411.0736: there is a waiting period of either three years or five years after the date of completion of the sentence. If an interlock ignition device (aka a deep lung device) was required as a condition of the sentence for six months or more, then the waiting period is only three years.43 If not, the waiting period is five years.44
How much does it cost to petition the court for an Order of Nondisclosure?
County clerks are required to charge $28 “in addition to any other fee that generally applies to the filing of a civil petition” under most circumstances.45 However, the “automatic” nondisclosures under Section 411.072 do not allow the clerks to charge the additional fee.
Lawyers will also usually charge a fee to draft the documents. Do not try to do the petition for a nondisclosure on your own. Learn why here
What changed in the 2015 law?
The 2015 law added several additional categories of eligibility for orders of nondisclosure in addition to redesignating the existing code. The new categories of eligibility were only applicable to offenses occurring on or after September 1, 2015.46
The nondisclosure law applicable to offenses occurring prior to September 1, 2015, was found in Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.081.47 This law is no longer be in effect after September 1, 2017 (see footnote 4). The old law made it crystal clear that you would only be eligible for an order of nondisclosure if you had received deferred adjudication probation.48 Additionally, you would not be eligible to petition the court for nondisclosure if you had been convicted of or placed on deferred probation for any of the following:49
- (1) an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
- (2) an offense under Section 20.04, Penal Code, regardless of whether the offense is a reportable
conviction or adjudication for purposes of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; - (3) an offense under Section 19.02, 19.03, 22.04, 22.041, 25.07, 25.072, or 42.072, Penal Code; or
- (4) any other offense involving family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code.
You also needed to have completed the deferred probation successfully, obtained a discharge and dismissal and waited for the required amount of time after you completed the probation.50 Finally, the old law prohibited you from obtaining an Order of Nondisclosure if, while you were on deferred probation, you had been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for any offense other than an offense under the Transportation Code punishable by fine only.51
The 2015 law created several additional categories of eligibility scenarios. The categories created under the 2015 law were as follows:
- “Automatic” Nondisclosure for Certain Misdemeanor Deferred Dismissals – Sec. 411.072
- Standard Nondisclosure for Deferred Dismissals – Sec. 411.0725
- Sex Trafficking Victim Nondisclosures after Judicial Clemency – Sec. 411.0728
- Nondisclosure after Straight Probation for Certain Misdemeanors – Sec. 411.073
- Nondisclosure after Confinement for Certain Misdemeanors – Sec. 411.0735
All of these were eligibility scenarios subject to exceptions, which the legislature codified at Section 411.074. The 2017 law modified these limitations slightly, as described below.
The 2015 law also excluded any offense where the court made an affirmative finding that the offense involved family violence.52 Additionally, the 2015 law added two new types of employers to the list of noncriminal justice agencies who are eligible to receive records that are otherwise sealed by an order of nondisclosure: certain banks (designated at Section 411.0765(b)(30)) and certain businesses dealing with hazardous, explosive, combustible, or flammable materials (designated at Section 411.0765(b)(31)).
What changed in the 2017 law?
The changes to the law in 2017 made by H.B. 3016 allowed some people who have been convicted of DWI to petition for an order of nondisclosure. There are separate eligibility rules for people who have successfully completed DWI probation and for people who were sentenced to jail or otherwise did not successfully complete the probation.
A very important change in the new law is that the almost of the eligibility rules, including the new rules created in 2015, are now applicable retroactively, meaning that even people with older cases can get their records nondisclosed so long as they meet any of the eligibility standards. (see footnote 4)
Law enforcement may also share otherwise sealed information with federal agencies for the purpose of complying with a requirement under federal law or if federal law requires the disclosure as a condition of receiving federal highway funds. (see footnote 40).
Some of the rules related to nondisclosure after confinement situations have been updated as well, as described in more detail above. Judges can make a finding that a misdemeanor was violent or sexual in nature and prevent you from obtaining a nondisclosure under Section 411.0735. But you are now also immediately eligible for nondisclosure under this this section after completion of the sentence if the offense was punishable by fine only.
Section 411.074 was also modified slightly from the 2015 version. The 2015 version says that you are not eligible for an order of nondisclosure if:
(1) [you were] convicted or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for or [have] been previously convicted or placed on any other deferred adjudication community supervision for:
(A) an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(B) an offense under Section 20.04, Penal Code, regardless of whether the offense is a reportable conviction or adjudication for purposes of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(C) an offense under Section 19.02, 19.03, 20A.02, 20A.03, 22.04, 22.041, 25.07, 25.072, or 42.072, Penal Code; or
(D) any other offense involving family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code; or
(2) the court makes an affirmative finding that the offense for which the order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information is requested involved family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code.
However, the 2017 version of these additional limitations is as follows:53
(1) the person requests the order of nondisclosure
was convicted or placed on deferred adjudication community supervisionfor, or the person has been previously convicted of or placed onany otherdeferred adjudication community supervision for:(A) an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(B) an offense under Section 20.04, Penal Code, regardless of whether the offense is a reportable conviction or adjudication for purposes of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(C) an offense under Section 19.02, 19.03, 20A.02, 20A.03, 22.04, 22.041, 25.07, 25.072, or 42.072, Penal Code; or
(D) any other offense involving family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code; or
(2) the court makes an affirmative finding that the offense for which the order of nondisclosure
of criminal history record informationis requested involved family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code.
Legal References:
1H.B. 3016, 85th Legislature, Section 13
3Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1279 (S.B. 1902), §32, eff. Sept. 1, 2015.
4Texas Government Code Section 411.0716, as created by H.B. 3016, Section 1, effective September 1, 2017.
Sec. 411.0716. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this subchapter applies to the issuance of an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for an offense committed before, on, or after September 1, 2017.
(b) Section 411.072 applies only to a person described by Subsection (a) of that section who receives a discharge and dismissal under Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, on or after September 1, 2017.
Subsection (b) limits the 411.072 “automatic nondisclosure” to probation discharges that occur after the effective date of the law. This effective date limitation does not apply to any of the other new conviction eligibility scenarios.
Note that H.B. 3016, at Section 11(b), repealed the requirement that the eligibility categories created in 2015 only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2015. So the new “Applicability of Subchapter” Sec. 411.0716 is the only law in effect controlling the offense date limitation
5Texas Government Code Section 411.072(a)(1)&(2), as modified by H.B. 3016, Section 2, effective September 1, 2017.
6Texas Government Code Section 411.072(c)
7Texas Government Code Section 411.072(b)
8Texas Government Code Section 411.072(d), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 2, effective September 1, 2017.
9Texas Government Code Section 411.0725(a)
10Texas Government Code Section 411.0725(a)
11Texas Government Code Section 411.0725(b)
12Texas Government Code Section 411.0725(b)
13Texas Government Code Section 411.0728(a)&(d)
14Texas Government Code Section 411.0728(b)
15Texas Government Code Section 411.073(a)&(b)
16Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(a), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
17Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(a)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
18Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(b), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
19Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(b)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
20Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(b)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
21Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(d), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
22Texas Government Code Section 411.0735, as created by H.B. 3016, Section 5, effective September 1, 2017.
23Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(b)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 5, effective September 1, 2017.
24 Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(a)&(b)
25Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(c-1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 5, effective September 1, 2017.
26Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(a)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
27Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(a)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
28Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(b), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
29Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(b)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
30Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(b)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
31Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(e), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
32 Texas Government Code Section 411.076
33Texas Government Code Section 411.0765(a)(5), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 8, effective September 1, 2017.
34 Texas Government Code Section 411.072(b)(1) – (2)
35 Texas Government Code Section 411.0725(b)(1) – (3)
36 Texas Government Code Section 411.0728(d)
37 Texas Government Code Section 411.073(d)(1) – (2)
38Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(f)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
39Texas Government Code Section 411.0731(f)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 4, effective September 1, 2017.
40 Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(d)
41Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(d)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 5, effective September 1, 2017.
42Texas Government Code Section 411.0735(d)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 5, effective September 1, 2017.
43Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(f)(1), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
44Texas Government Code Section 411.0736(f)(2), as created by H.B. 3016, Section 6, effective September 1, 2017.
45 Texas Government Code Section 411.0745(b); also Texas Government Code Section 411.081(f-1)(West 2013)
46 Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1279 (S.B. 1902), §32, eff. Sept. 1, 2015.
47Texas Government Code Section 411.081(West 2013)
48Texas Government Code Section 411.081(d)(West 2013)
49Texas Government Code Section 411.081(e)(West 2013)
50Texas Government Code Section 411.081(d)(West 2013)(requiring discharge & dismissal); Texas Government Code Section 411.081(d)(1) – (3)(West 2013)(requiring the statutory waiting time, see the waiting period section above)
51Texas Government Code Section 411.081(e)(West 2013)
52Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1279 (S.B. 1902), §1, Section 411.074(b)(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2015
53Texas Government Code Section 411.074, as amended by H.B. 3016, Section 7, effective September 1, 2017.