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CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 28(FIN)
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Offered: 4/26/24
Referred: Rules
Sponsor(s): SENATOR CLAMAN
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\Y
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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\Y
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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
that occurred at the employer's workplace; 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; 28
(3) direct the respondent to stay away from the workplace of the 29
petitioner, or any specified place frequented by the petitioner, during the normal 30
course of the petitioner's business; however, the court may order the respondent to stay 31 33-LS0242\Y
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away from the respondent's own workplace only if the respondent has been provided 1
actual notice of the opportunity to appear and be heard on the petition; 2
(4) order other relief the court determines to be necessary to protect the 3
workplace of the petitioner. 4
(d) If the court issues a protective order under this section, the court shall 5
(1) make reasonable efforts to ensure that the order is understood by 6
the petitioner and the respondent; and 7
(2) have the order delivered to the appropriate local law enforcement 8
agency for expedited service and entry into the central registry of protective orders 9
under AS 18.65.540. 10
(e) A court may not deny a petition for a protective order solely because of a 11
lapse of time between an act of violence or a threat of violence and the filing of the 12
petition. 13
Sec. 18.65.877. Ex parte protective orders for workplace violence. An 14
employer who may file a petition for a protective order against an individual under 15
AS 18.65.875 may file a petition for an ex parte protective order against the 16
individual. If the court finds that the petition establishes probable cause that recent 17
violence has occurred or a recent threat of violence has been made, that it is necessary 18
to protect the employer from further violence, and that the petitioner has certified to 19
the court in writing the efforts, if any, that have been made to provide notice to the 20
respondent, the court shall ex parte and without notice to the respondent issue a 21
protective order. An ex parte protective order under this section may grant the 22
protection allowed by AS 18.65.875(c). An ex parte protective order expires 20 days 23
after it is issued unless dissolved earlier by the court at the request of either the 24
petitioner or the respondent after notice and, if requested, a hearing. If the court issues 25
an ex parte protective order, the court shall have the order delivered to the appropriate 26
law enforcement agency for expedited service and entry into the central registry of 27
protective orders under AS 18.65.540. 28
Sec. 18.65.880. Modification of workplace violence protective order. (a) 29
Either the petitioner or the respondent may request modification of a protective order 30
issued under AS 18.65.875 or 18.65.877. If a request is made fo
r modification of 31 33-LS0242\Y
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(1) a protective order after notice and hearing under AS 18.65.875, the 1
court shall schedule a hearing within 20 days after the date the request is made, except 2
that if the court finds that the request is meritless on its face, the court may deny the 3
request without further hearing; or 4
(2) an ex parte protective order under AS 18.65.877, the court shall 5
schedule a hearing on three days' notice or on shorter notice as the court may 6
prescribe. 7
(b) If a request for a modification is made under this section and the 8
respondent raises an issue not raised by the petitioner, the court may allow the 9
petitioner additional time to respond. 10
(c) If the court modifies a protective order under this section, the court shall 11
issue a modified order and shall 12
(1) make reasonable efforts to ensure that the order is understood by 13
the petitioner and the respondent; and 14
(2) have the order delivered to the appropriate local law enforcement 15
agency for expedited service and for entry into the central registry of protective orders 16
under AS 18.65.540. 17
Sec. 18.65.885. Specific protective orders. (a) If a respondent in a protective 18
order issued under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.880 is prohibited from communicating with 19
the petitioner, excluded from the petitioner's workplace, or ordered to stay away from 20
the petitioner as provided in AS 18.65.875(c)(2) - (4), an invitation by the petitioner to 21
communicate, enter the petitioner's workplace, or have other prohibited contact with 22
the petitioner does not waive or nullify any provision in a protective order. 23
(b) A court may not order parties into mediation or refer them to mediation for 24
resolution of the issues arising from a petition for a protective order under 25
AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 26
(c) In addition to other required information contained in a protective order, 27
the order must include in bold face type the following statements: 28
(1) "Violation of this order may be a misdemeanor, punishable by up 29
to one year of incarceration and up to a $25,000 fine"; 30
(2) "If you are ordered to have no contact with the petitioner or to stay 31 33-LS0242\Y
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away from the petitioner's workplace or other place designated by the court, an 1
invitation by the petitioner to have the prohibited contact or to be present at or enter 2
the workplace or other place does not in any way invalidate or nullify the order." 3
(d) A protective order issued under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 is in addition to 4
and not in place of any other civil or criminal remedy. A petitioner is not barred from 5
seeking an order under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 because of the existence of another 6
civil action between the petitioner and the respondent. 7
Sec. 18.65.890. Forms for petitions and orders; fees. (a) The Alaska Court 8
System shall prepare forms for petitions, protective orders, and instructions for their 9
use by an employer seeking a protective order under AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. The 10
forms must conform to the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, except that information 11
on the forms may be filled in by legible handwriting. 12
(b) In addition to other information required, a petition for a protective order 13
must include a statement of pending civil or criminal actions involving the petitioner 14
or the respondent. While a protective order is in effect or a petition for a protective 15
order is pending, both the petitioner and the respondent have a continuing duty to 16
inform the court of pending civil or criminal actions involving the petitioner or the 17
respondent. 18
(c) The office of the clerk of each superior and district court shall make 19
available to the public the forms a person seeking a protective order under 20
AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 may need and instructions for the use of the forms. The 21
clerk shall provide assistance in completing the forms and filing the forms. 22
(d) Filing fees may not be charged in any action seeking only the relief 23
provided in AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 24
Sec. 18.65.895. Service of process. (a) Unless, on the record in court, the 25
respondent has already been provided a copy of the court's order, process issued under 26
AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899 shall be promptly served and executed. If process is to be 27
served upon a respondent believed to be present or residing in a municipality, as 28
defined in AS 29.71.800, or in an unincorporated community, process shall be served 29
by a peace officer of that municipality or unincorporated community who has 30
jurisdiction within the area of service. If a peace officer of the municipality or 31 33-LS0242\Y
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unincorporated community who has jurisdiction is not available, a superior court, 1
district court, or magistrate may designate any other peace officer to serve and execute 2
process. A state peace officer shall serve process in any area that is not within the 3
jurisdiction of a peace officer of a municipality or unincorporated community. A peace 4
officer shall use every reasonable means to serve process issued under AS 18.65.875 - 5
18.65.899. A judge may not order a peace officer to serve a petition that has been 6
denied by the court. 7
(b) Service of process under (a) of this section does not preclude a petitioner 8
from using any other available means to serve process issued under AS 18.65.875 - 9
18.65.899. 10
(c) Fees for service of process may not be charged in a proceeding seeking 11
only the relief provided in AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 12
Sec. 18.65.897. Civil liability. (a) A person may not bring a civil action for 13
damages against the state, its officers, agents, or employees, or a law enforcement 14
agency, its officers, agents, or employees for any failure to comply with the provisions 15
of AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899. 16
(b) A person may not bring a civil action for damages against an employer for 17
seeking or failing to seek a protective order unless an employer seeks a protective 18
order for an illegitimate purpose. 19
Sec. 18.65.899. Definitions. In AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899, 20
(1) "course of conduct" has the meaning given in AS 11.41.270; 21
(2) "employee" means an individual employed by an employer but 22
does not include an individual employed in the domestic service of any person; 23
(3) "employer" means a person who employs one or more other 24
persons; 25
(4) "threat of violence" means a statement or course of conduct that 26
recklessly places a person in fear of physical injury or death; 27
(5) "violence" means a crime under AS 11.41 that injures a person or 28
places a person in fear of physical injury or death; 29
(6) "workplace" means a place of employment other than a place used 30
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* Sec. 7. AS 22.15.100 is amended to read: 1
Sec. 22.15.100. Functions and powers of district judge and magistrate. 2
Each district judge and magistrate has the power 3
(1) to issue writs of habeas corpus for the purpose of inquiring into the 4
cause of restraint of liberty, returnable before a judge of the superior court, and the 5
same proceedings shall be had on the writ as if it had been granted by the superior 6
court judge under the laws of the state in those cases; 7
(2) of a notary public; 8
(3) to solemnize marriages; 9
(4) to issue warrants of arrest, summons, and search warrants 10
according to manner and procedure prescribed by law and the supreme court; 11
(5) to act as an examining judge or magistrate in preliminary 12
examinations in criminal proceedings; to set, receive, and forfeit bail and to order the 13
release of defendants under bail; 14
(6) to act as a referee in matters and actions referred to the judge or 15
magistrate by the superior court, with all powers conferred upon referees by laws; 16
(7) of the superior court in all respects including contempts, attendance 17
of witnesses, and bench warrants; 18
(8) to order the temporary detention of a minor, or take other action 19
authorized by law or rules of procedure, in cases arising under AS 47.10 or AS 47.12, 20
when the minor is in a condition or surrounding dangerous or injurious to the welfare 21
of the minor or others that requires immediate action; the action may be continued in 22
effect until reviewed by the superior court in accordance with rules of procedure 23
governing these cases; 24
(9) to issue a protective order in cases involving 25
(A) domestic violence as provided in AS 18.66.100 - 26
18.66.180; [OR] 27
(B) stalking or sexual assault as provided in AS 18.65.850 - 28
18.65.870; or 29
(C) workplace violence as provided in AS 18.65.875 - 30
18.65.899; 31 33-LS0242\Y
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(10) to review an administrative revocation of a person's driver's 1
license or nonresident privilege to drive, and an administrative refusal to issue an 2
original license, when designated as a hearing officer by the commissioner of 3
administration and with the consent of the administrative director of the Alaska Court 4
System; 5
(11) to establish the fact of death or inquire into the death of a person 6
in the manner prescribed under AS 09.55.020 - 09.55.069; 7
(12) to issue an ex parte testing, examination, or screening order 8
according to the manner and procedure prescribed by AS 18.15.375. 9
* Sec. 8. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 10
read: 11
INDIRECT COURT RULE AMENDMENTS. (a) AS 18.65.895, added by sec. 6 of 12
this Act, has the effect of amending Rule 4, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, 13
Alaska Rules of Administration, relating to fees and service of process for a workplace 14
violence protective order. 15
(b) AS 18.65.875 - 18.65.899, added by sec. 6 of this Act, have the effect of 16
amending Rule 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, by changing the method for obtaining 17
and the timing of temporary restraining orders. 18
* Sec. 9. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 19
read: 20
CONDITIONAL EFFECT. This Act takes effect only if sec. 8 of this Act receives the 21
two-thirds majority vote of each house required by art. IV, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of 22
Alaska. 23
* Sec. 10. If this Act takes effect under sec. 9 of this Act, it takes effect January 1, 2025. 24