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SENATE BILL NO. 28
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
BY SENATOR CLAMAN
Introduced: 1/9/23
Referred: Prefiled
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
"An Act relating to workplace violence protective orders; relating to the crime of 1
violating a protective order; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; 2
amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of 3
Administration; and providing for an effective date." 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 5
* Section 1. AS 11.56.740(a) is amended to read: 6
(a) A person commits the crime of violating a protective order if the person is 7
subject to a protective order 8
(1) issued, filed, or recognized under AS 18.66 and containing a 9
provision listed in AS 18.66.100(c)(1) - (7) and knowingly commits or attempts to 10
commit an act with reckless disregard that the act violates or would violate a provision 11
of the protective order; 12
(2) issued or recognized under AS 18.65.850, 18.65.855, 18.65.860, or 13
18.65.867 and knowingly commits or attempts to commit an act that violates or would 14 33-LS0242\A
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violate a provision listed in AS 18.65.850(c)(1) - (3); [OR] 1
(3) issued under AS 13.26.450 - 13.26.460 and knowingly commits or 2
attempts to commit an act with reckless disregard that the act violates or would violate 3
a provision of the protective order; or 4
(4) issued under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 and knowingly commits 5
or attempts to commit an act that violates or would violate a provision listed in 6
AS 18.65.875(c). 7
* Sec. 2. AS 11.56.740(c) is amended to read: 8
(c) In this section, "protective order" means an order issued, filed, or 9
recognized under AS 13.26.450 - 13.26.460, AS 18.65.850 - 18.65.899 [AS 18.65.850 10
- 18.65.870], or AS 18.66.100 - 18.66.180. 11
* Sec. 3. AS 18.65.530(a) is amended to read: 12
(a) Except as provided in (b) or (c) of this section, a peace officer, with or 13
without a warrant, shall arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe the 14
person has, either in or outside the presence of the officer, within the previous 12 15
hours, 16
(1) committed domestic violence, except an offense under 17
AS 11.41.100 - 11.41.130, whether the crime is a felony or a misdemeanor; 18
(2) committed the crime of violating a protective order in violation of 19
AS 11.56.740(a)(1), [OR] (2), or (4); 20
(3) violated a condition of release imposed under AS 12.30.016(e) or 21
(f) or 12.30.027. 22
* Sec. 4. AS 18.65.540(a) is amended to read: 23
(a) The Department of Public Safety shall maintain a central registry of 24
protective orders issued by or filed with a court of this state under AS 13.26.450 - 25
13.26.460, AS 18.65.850 - 18.65.899 [AS 18.65.850 - 18.65.870], or AS 18.66.100 - 26
18.66.180. The registry must include, for each protective order, the names of the 27
petitioner and respondent, their dates of birth, and the conditions and duration of the 28
order. The registry shall retain a record of the protective order after it has expired. 29
* Sec. 5. AS 18.65.540(b) is amended to read: 30
(b) A peace officer receiving a protective order from a court under 31 33-LS0242\A
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AS 13.26.450, 13.26.455, AS 18.65.850 - 18.65.855, 18.65.875, 18.65.877, or 1
AS 18.66.100 - 18.66.180, a modified order issued under AS 13.26.460, 2
AS 18.65.860, 18.65.880, or AS 18.66.120, or an order dismissing a protective order 3
shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the order, modified order, or dismissal is 4
entered into the central registry within 24 hours after being received. 5
* Sec. 6. AS 18.65 is amended by adding new sections to read: 6
Article 12A. Workplace Violence Protective Orders. 7
Sec. 18.65.875. Protective orders; eligible petitioners; relief. (a) An 8
employer may file a petition in the district or superior court for a protective order 9
against an individual who the employer reasonably believes 10
(1) committed an act of violence against the employer or an employee; 11
or 12
(2) made a threat of violence against the employer or an employee that 13
can reasonably be construed as a threat that may be carried out at the employer's 14
workplace. 15
(b) When a petition for a protective order is filed, the court shall schedule a 16
hearing and provide at least 10 days' notice to the respondent of the hearing and of the 17
respondent's right to appear and be heard, either in person or through an attorney. If 18
the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the respondent has committed 19
violence or made a threat of violence, regardless of whether the respondent appears at 20
the hearing, the court may order any relief available under (c) of this section. The 21
provisions of a protective order issued under this section are effective for six months 22
unless earlier dissolved by the court. 23
(c) A protective order issued under this section may 24
(1) prohibit the respondent from making a threat to commit or 25
committing violence; 26
(2) prohibit the respondent from telephoning, contacting, or otherwise 27
communicating directly or indirectly with the petitioner or a designated employee of 28
the petitioner specifically named by the court; 29
(3) direct the respondent to stay away from the workplace of the 30
petitioner, or any specified place frequented by the petitioner or a named designated 31 33-LS0242\A
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employee of the petitioner, during the normal course of the petitioner's business; 1
however, the court may order the respondent to stay away from the respondent's own 2
workplace only if the respondent has been provided actual notice of the opportunity to 3
appear and be heard on the petition; 4
(4) order other relief the court determines to be necessary to protect the 5
workplace of the petitioner or a designated employee of the petitioner. 6
(d) If the court issues a protective order under this section, the court shall 7
(1) make reasonable efforts to ensure that the order is understood by 8
the petitioner and, if present at the hearing, by a named designated employee of the 9
petitioner and the respondent; and 10
(2) have the order delivered to the appropriate local law enforcement 11
agency for expedited service. 12
(e) A court may not deny a petition for a protective order solely because of a 13
lapse of time between an act of violence or a threat of violence and the filing of the 14
petition. 15
Sec. 18.65.877. Ex parte protective orders for workplace violence. An 16
employer who may file a petition for a protective order against an individual under 17
AS 18.65.875 may file a petition for an ex parte protective order against the 18
individual. If the court finds that the petition establishes probable cause that recent 19
violence has occurred or a recent threat of violence has been made, that it is necessary 20
to protect the employer or a designated employee of the petitioner from further 21
violence, and that the petitioner has certified to the court in writing the efforts, if any, 22
that have been made to provide notice to the respondent, the court shall ex parte and 23
without notice to the respondent issue a protective order. An ex parte protective order 24
under this section may grant the protection allowed by AS 18.65.875(c). An ex parte 25
protective order expires 20 days after it is issued unless dissolved earlier by the court 26
at the request of either the petitioner or the respondent after notice and, if requested, a 27
hearing. If the court issues an ex parte protective order, the court shall have the order 28
delivered to the appropriate law enforcement agency for expedited service. 29
Sec. 18.65.880. Modification of workplace violence protective order. (a) 30
Either the petitioner or the respondent may request modificatio
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issued under AS 18.65.875 or 18.65.877. If a request is made for modification of 1
(1) a protective order after notice and hearing under AS 18.65.875, the 2
court shall schedule a hearing within 20 days after the date the request is made, except 3
that if the court finds that the request is meritless on its face, the court may deny the 4
request without further hearing; or 5
(2) an ex parte protective order under AS 18.65.877, the court shall 6
schedule a hearing on three days' notice or on shorter notice as the court may 7
prescribe. 8
(b) If a request for a modification is made under this section and the 9
respondent raises an issue not raised by the petitioner, the court may allow the 10
petitioner additional time to respond. 11
(c) If the court modifies a protective order under this section, the court shall 12
issue a modified order and shall 13
(1) make reasonable efforts to ensure that the order is understood by 14
the petitioner and, if present at the hearing, by a named designated employee of the 15
petitioner and the respondent; and 16
(2) have the order delivered to the appropriate local law enforcement 17
agency for expedited service and for entry into the central registry of protective orders 18
under AS 18.65.540. 19
Sec. 18.65.885. Specific protective orders. (a) If a respondent in a protective 20
order issued under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.880 is prohibited from communicating with 21
the petitioner or a named designated employee of the petitioner, excluded from the 22
petitioner's workplace, or ordered to stay away from the petitioner or a named 23
designated employee of the petitioner as provided in AS 18.65.875(c)(2) - (4), an 24
invitation by the petitioner or a named designated employee of the petitioner to 25
communicate, enter the petitioner's workplace or the residence or vehicle of a named 26
designated employee of the petitioner, or have other prohibited contact with the 27
petitioner or a named designated employee of the petitioner does not waive or nullify 28
any provision in a protective order. 29
(b) A court may not order parties into mediation or refer them to mediation for 30
resolution of the issues arising from a petition for a protective order under 31 33-LS0242\A
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AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 1
(c) In addition to other required information contained in a protective order, 2
the order must include in bold face type the following statements: 3
(1) "Violation of this order may be a misdemeanor, punishable by up 4
to one year of incarceration and up to a $25,000 fine"; 5
(2) "If you are ordered to have no contact with the petitioner or a 6
named designated employee of the petitioner or to stay away from the petitioner's or a 7
named designated employee's workplace, residence, vehicle, or other place designated 8
by the court, an invitation by the petitioner or a named designated employee of the 9
petitioner to have the prohibited contact or to be present at or enter the workplace, 10
residence, vehicle, or other place does not in any way invalidate or nullify the order." 11
(d) A protective order issued under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 is in addition to 12
and not in place of any other civil or criminal remedy. A petitioner is not barred from 13
seeking an order under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 because of the existence of another 14
civil action between the petitioner or a named designated employee of the petitioner 15
and the respondent. 16
Sec. 18.65.890. Forms for petitions and orders; fees. (a) The Alaska Court 17
System shall prepare forms for petitions, protective orders, and instructions for their 18
use by an employer seeking a protective order under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. The 19
forms must conform to the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, except that information 20
on the forms may be filled in by legible handwriting. 21
(b) In addition to other information required, a petition for a protective order 22
must include a statement of pending civil or criminal actions involving the petitioner, 23
a named designated employee of the petitioner, or the respondent. While a protective 24
order is in effect or a petition for a protective order is pending, both the petitioner and 25
the respondent have a continuing duty to inform the court of pending civil or criminal 26
actions involving the petitioner, a named designated employee of the petitioner, or the 27
respondent. 28
(c) The office of the clerk of each superior and district court shall make 29
available to the public the forms a person seeking a protective order under 30
AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 may need and instructions for the use of the forms. The 31 33-LS0242\A
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clerk shall provide assistance in completing the forms and filing the forms. 1
(d) Filing fees may not be charged in any action seeking only the relief 2
provided in AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 3
Sec. 18.65.895. Service of process. (a) Unless, on the record in court, the 4
respondent has already been provided a copy of the court's order, process issued under 5
AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 shall be promptly served and executed. If process is to be 6
served upon a respondent believed to be present or residing in a municipality, as 7
defined in AS 29.71.800, or in an unincorporated community, process shall be served 8
by a peace officer of that municipality or unincorporated community who has 9
jurisdiction within the area of service. If a peace officer of the municipality or 10
unincorporated community who has jurisdiction is not available, a superior court, 11
district court, or magistrate may designate any other peace officer to serve and execute 12
process. A state peace officer shall serve process in any area that is not within the 13
jurisdiction of a peace officer of a municipality or unincorporated community. A peace 14
officer shall use every reasonable means to serve process issued under AS 18.65.875 - 15
18.65.899. A judge may not order a peace officer to serve a petition that has been 16
denied by the court. 17
(b) Service of process under (a) of this section does not preclude a petitioner 18
from using any other available means to serve process issued under AS 18.65.875 - 19
18.65.899. 20
(c) Fees for service of process may not be charged in a proceeding seeking 21
only the relief provided in AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 22
Sec. 18.65.897. Civil liability. (a) A person may not bring a civil action for 23
damages against the state, its officers, agents, or employees, or a law enforcement 24
agency, its officers, agents, or employees for any failure to comply with the provisions 25
of AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 26
(b) A person may not bring a civil action for damages against an employer for 27
seeking or failing to seek a protective order unless an employer seeks a protective 28
order for an illegitimate purpose. 29
Sec. 18.65.899. Definitions. In AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899, 30
(1) "course of conduct" has the meaning given in AS 11.41.270; 31 33-LS0242\A
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(2) "employee" has the meaning given in AS 18.80.300; 1
(3) "employer" has the meaning given in AS 18.80.300; 2
(4) "threat of violence" means a statement or course of conduct that 3
recklessly places a person in fear of physical injury or death; 4
(5) "violence" means a crime under AS 11.41 that injures a person or 5
places a person in fear of physical injury or death; 6
(6) "workplace" means a place of employment other than a place used 7
primarily as a residence. 8
* Sec. 7. AS 22.15.100 is amended to read: 9
Sec. 22.15.100. Functions and powers of district judge and magistrate. 10
Each district judge and magistrate has the power 11
(1) to issue writs of habeas corpus for the purpose of inquiring into the 12
cause of restraint of liberty, returnable before a judge of the superior court, and the 13
same proceedings shall be had on the writ as if it had been granted by the superior 14
court judge under the laws of the state in those cases; 15
(2) of a notary public; 16
(3) to solemnize marriages; 17
(4) to issue warrants of arrest, summons, and search warrants 18
according to manner and procedure prescribed by law and the supreme court; 19
(5) to act as an examining judge or magistrate in preliminary 20
examinations in criminal proceedings; to set, receive, and forfeit bail and to order the 21
release of defendants under bail; 22
(6) to act as a referee in matters and actions referred to the judge or 23
magistrate by the superior court, with all powers conferred upon referees by laws; 24
(7) of the superior court in all respects including contempts, attendance 25
of witnesses, and bench warrants; 26
(8) to order the temporary detention of a minor, or take other action 27
authorized by law or rules of procedure, in cases arising under AS 47.10 or AS 47.12, 28
when the minor is in a condition or surrounding dangerous or injurious to the welfare 29
of the minor or others that requires immediate action; the action may be continued in 30
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governing these cases; 1
(9) to issue a protective order in cases involving 2
(A) domestic violence as provided in AS 18.66.100 - 3
18.66.180; [OR] 4
(B) stalking or sexual assault as provided in AS 18.65.850 - 5
18.65.870; or 6
(C) workplace violence as provided in AS 18.65.875 - 7
18.65.899; 8
(10) to review an administrative revocation of a person's driver's 9
license or nonresident privilege to drive, and an administrative refusal to issue an 10
original license, when designated as a hearing officer by the commissioner of 11
administration and with the consent of the administrative director of the Alaska Court 12
System; 13
(11) to establish the fact of death or inquire into the death of a person 14
in the manner prescribed under AS 09.55.020 - 09.55.069; 15
(12) to issue an ex parte testing, examination, or screening order 16
according to the manner and procedure prescribed by AS 18.15.375. 17
* Sec. 8. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 18
read: 19
INDIRECT COURT RULE AMENDMENTS. (a) AS 18.65.895, added by sec. 6 of 20
this Act, has the effect of amending Rule 4, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, 21
Alaska Rules of Administration, relating to fees and service of process for a workplace 22
violence protective order. 23
(b) AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899, added by sec. 6 of this Act, have the effect of 24
amending Rule 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, by changing the method for obtaining 25
and the timing of temporary restraining orders. 26
* Sec. 9. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 27
read: 28
CONDITIONAL EFFECT. This Act takes effect only if sec. 8 of this Act receives the 29
two-thirds majority vote of each house required by art. IV, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of 30
Alaska. 31 33-LS0242\A
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* Sec. 10. If this Act takes effect under sec. 9 of this Act, it takes effect January 1, 2024. 1