AR
Arkansas House Bill HB1613

Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1613 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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11 Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
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44 State of Arkansas 1
55 94th General Assembly A Bill 2
66 Regular Session, 2023 HOUSE BILL 1613 3
77 4
88 By: Representative Underwood 5
99 By: Senator G. Stubblefield 6
1010 7
1111 For An Act To Be Entitled 8
1212 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE D OMESTIC ABUSE 9
1313 ACT OF 1991; TO AMEN D THE DEFINITIONS UN DER THE 10
1414 DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT; TO AMEND THE REQUIRE MENTS FOR 11
1515 OBTAINING AN ORDER O F PROTECTION; TO AME ND THE LAW 12
1616 CONCERNING RELIEF TH AT MAY BE GRANTED IN AN ORDER OF 13
1717 PROTECTION; TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE APPEARANC ES AND 14
1818 EXPEDITED HEARINGS I N CERTAIN CIRCUMSTAN CES WITHIN AN 15
1919 ORDER OF PROTECTION CASE; TO AMEND THE D UTIES OF A 16
2020 SHERIFF'S OFFICE WIT H REGARD TO AN ORDER OF 17
2121 PROTECTION CASE; TO ALLOW FOR THE CREATI ON OF A 18
2222 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM; AND FOR OTH ER 19
2323 PURPOSES. 20
2424 21
2525 22
2626 Subtitle 23
2727 TO AMEND THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT OF 1991; 24
2828 TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE APPEARANCES AND 25
2929 EXPEDITED HEARINGS IN CERTAIN 26
3030 CIRCUMSTANCES IN AN ORDER OF PROTECTION 27
3131 CASE; AND TO CREATE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 28
3232 INTERVENTION PROGRAM. 29
3333 30
3434 31
3535 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 32
3636 33
3737 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-103(4), concerning the definition of 34
3838 "domestic abuse" under the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991, is amended to read as 35
3939 follows: 36 HB1613
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4242
4343
4444 (4) "Domestic abuse" or "domestic violence" means: 1
4545 (A) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the 2
4646 infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault 3
4747 between family or household members; or 4
4848 (B) Any sexual conduct between fam ily or household 5
4949 members, whether minors or adults, that constitutes a crime under the laws of 6
5050 this state; 7
5151 (C)(i) A pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect 8
5252 unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal liberty of a person, 9
5353 also known as "course of control" as used in this chapter. 10
5454 (ii) "Course of control" includes without 11
5555 limitation, unreasonably: 12
5656 (a) Isolating a person from his or her 13
5757 friends, relatives, or other sources of support; 14
5858 (b) Depriving a person of basic neces sities; 15
5959 (c) Controlling, regulating, or monitoring a 16
6060 person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic 17
6161 resources, or access to resources; or 18
6262 (d) Compelling a person by intimidation, 19
6363 force, threat of force, or threat based o n actual or suspected immigration 20
6464 status to engage in conduct from which the person has a right to abstain or 21
6565 to abstain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage; or 22
6666 (D)(i) A pattern of behavior that unreasonably destroys 23
6767 the mental or emotional calm of a family or household member based on the 24
6868 totality of the circumstances, also known as "disturbing the peace" as used 25
6969 in this chapter. 26
7070 (ii) "Disturbing the peace" includes without 27
7171 limitation: 28
7272 (a) Molesting the other party; 29
7373 (b) Attacking the other party; 30
7474 (c) Striking the other party; 31
7575 (d) Stalking the other party; 32
7676 (e) Threatening the other party; 33
7777 (f) Sexually assaulting the other party; 34
7878 (g) Battering the other party; 35
7979 (h) Credibly impersonati ng the other party; 36 HB1613
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8282
8383
8484 (i) Falsely impersonating the other party; 1
8585 (j) Harassing the other party; 2
8686 (k) Telephoning the other party with the 3
8787 intent to harass the other party; 4
8888 (l) Destroying the personal property of the 5
8989 other party; 6
9090 (m) Directly or indirectly contacting the 7
9191 other party with the intent to harass the other party; 8
9292 (n) Coming within a specified distance of the 9
9393 other party; 10
9494 (o) Disturbing the peace of the other party; 11
9595 (p) Disturbing the peace of a family member or 12
9696 household member of the other party; or 13
9797 (q) Any other act that the court determines 14
9898 should be enjoined. 15
9999 16
100100 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-201 is amended to read as follows: 17
101101 9-15-201. Petition — Requirements generally. 18
102102 (a) All petitions under this chapter shall be verified. 19
103103 (b) The petition shall be filed with the circuit clerk in the county 20
104104 where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of abuse occurred, 21
105105 or where the respondent may be served. 22
106106 (c)(1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in the 23
107107 circuit court. 24
108108 (2) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in a 25
109109 pilot district court if the jurisdiction is established by the Supreme Court 26
110110 under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, and if the cases are assigned 27
111111 to the pilot district court through the administrative plan under Supreme 28
112112 Court Administrative Order No. 14. 29
113113 (d)(c) A petition may be filed by: 30
114114 (1) Any adult family or household member on behalf of himself or 31
115115 herself; 32
116116 (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another 33
117117 family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; 34
118118 (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another 35
119119 family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or 36 HB1613
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122122
123123
124124 (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic-violence domestic 1
125125 violence shelter or program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. 2
126126 (e)(d)(1) A petition for relief shall: 3
127127 (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; 4
128128 (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation 5
129129 between the parties; and 6
130130 (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order 7
131131 of protection under this chapter. 8
132132 (2) The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under 9
133133 oath that states the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse 10
134134 and the specific relief sought. 11
135135 (f)(e) The petition may be filed regardless of whether there is any 12
136136 pending litigation between the parties. 13
137137 (g)(f) A person's right to file a petition, or obtain relief hereunder 14
138138 shall not be affected by his or her leaving the residence or household to 15
139139 avoid abuse. 16
140140 17
141141 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-203 is amended to read as follows: 18
142142 9-15-203. Petition — Form. 19
143143 (a) The circuit clerk shall provide simplified forms and clerical 20
144144 assistance to help petitioners with the writing and filing of a petition 21
145145 under this chapter if the petitioner is not represented by counsel. 22
146146 (b) The circuit clerk shall provide an informational pamphlet 23
147147 developed by the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in 24
148148 consultation with experts on domestic abuse prevention and intervention, that 25
149149 provides information regarding resources available to victims of domestic 26
150150 abuse. 27
151151 (c) The petition form shall not require or suggest that a petitioner 28
152152 include his or her Social Security number or the Social Security number of 29
153153 the respondent in the petition. 30
154154 (c)(d)(1)(A) A petitioner may omit his or her home address or business 31
155155 address from all documents filed with the court. 32
156156 (B) If a petitioner omits his or her home address, the 33
157157 petitioner shall provide the court with a mailing address. 34
158158 (2) If disclosure of a petitioner's home address is necessary to 35
159159 determine jurisdiction or consider venue, the court may order the disclosure 36 HB1613
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163163
164164 of the petitioner's home address: 1
165165 (A) After receiving the petitioner's consent; 2
166166 (B) Orally and in chambers, out of the presence of the 3
167167 respondent, and a sealed record to be made; or 4
168168 (C) After a hearing, if the court takes into consideration 5
169169 the safety of the petitioner and finds the disclosure is in the interest of 6
170170 justice. 7
171171 (d)(e) The petition may be in substantially the following form: 8
172172 "Petition for Order of Protection 9
173173 Case No. _____________ 10
174174 _____________ Petitioner's home address: 11
175175 Petitioner _____________________________ 12
176176 _____________________________ 13
177177 _____________ Petitioner's work address: 14
178178 Date of Birth _____________________________ 15
179179 16
180180 vs. 17
181181 18
182182 _____________ Respondent's home address: 19
183183 Respondent _________________________ ____ 20
184184 _____________________________ 21
185185 _____________ Respondent's work address: 22
186186 Date of Birth, _____________________________ 23
187187 if known _____________________________ 24
188188 25
189189 ______ I am the petitioner and ______ at least 18 years of age ______ under 26
190190 18 but emancipated. 27
191191 ______ I am filing on behalf of myself. 28
192192 ______ I am filing on behalf of a family or household member who is: 29
193193 ______ a minor(s): (list) ___________________________________________________ 30
194194 ______ an adjudicated incompetent person: (list) ___________________________ _ 31
195195 ______ The respondent is ______ at least 18 years of age ______ under 18 but 32
196196 emancipated. 33
197197 ______ I am an employee or volunteer of a domestic violence shelter or 34
198198 program, and I am filing on behalf of a minor. 35
199199 The respondent and petitioner (or victim if filing on behalf of a minor or 36 HB1613
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202202
203203
204204 incompetent person): (check all that apply) 1
205205 ______ Are spouses; ______ Are related by blood; 2
206206 ______ Are parent and child; ______ Currently reside together 3
207207 or cohabit 4
208208 ______ Are former spouses; ______ Formerly resided together or 5
209209 cohabitated; 6
210210 ______ Have or have had a child in common; 7
211211 or ______ Are presently or in the past 8
212212 have been in a dating relationship. 9
213213 If order of protection of children is request ed: 10
214214 Children Date of Birth Address Relationship to Parties 11
215215 _____________________________________________________________________________12
216216 _____________________________________________________________________________13
217217 ___________________________________________ __________________________________14
218218 _____________________________________________________________________________ 15
219219 The respondent has committed domestic abuse to the petitioner or victim by 16
220220 the following acts: (describe) 17
221221 ______________________________________ _______________________________________18
222222 _____________________________________________________________________________19
223223 _____________________________________________________________________________20
224224 _______________________________________________________________ ______________ 21
225225 _____________________________________________________________________________22
226226 _____________________________________________________________________________23
227227 _____________________________________________________________________________24
228228 _____________________________________________________________________________ 25
229229 _____________________________________________________________________________ 26
230230 I am afraid of the respondent and: (describe) 27
231231 ________________________________________________________________ _____________28
232232 _____________________________________________________________________________29
233233 _____________________________________________________________________________30
234234 _____________________________________________________________________________ 31
235235 _____________________________________________________________________________32
236236 _____________________________________________________________________________ 33
237237 _____________ (1) There is an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse 34
238238 to me; or 35
239239 _____________ (2) The res pondent is scheduled to be released from 36 HB1613
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242242
243243
244244 incarceration within thirty (30) days and upon the respondent's release there 1
245245 will be an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse to me. 2
246246 The reasons are as follows: (describe) 3
247247 _____________________________________________________________________________4
248248 _____________________________________________________________________________5
249249 _____________________________________________________________________________6
250250 _________________________ ____________________________________________________ 7
251251 _____________________________________________________________________________ 8
252252 ______ Petitioner requests that the court issue an ex parte order of 9
253253 protection with the following provisions: (check all tha t apply) 10
254254 ______ Excluding the respondent from a shared residence or from the residence 11
255255 of the petitioner or victim. Address of residence: 12
256256 _____________________________________________________________________________ 13
257257 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employment, 14
258258 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of residence: 15
259259 _____________________________________________________________________________ 16
260260 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employme nt, 17
261261 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of: 18
262262 Place of business: __________________________________________________________ 19
263263 Employment: _________________________________________________________________ 20
264264 School: _____________________ ________________________________________________ 21
265265 Other (identify): ___________________________________________________________ 22
266266 Prohibiting the respondent, directly or through an agent, from contacting the 23
267267 petitioner or victim, except under the following co nditions: 24
268268 _____________________________________________________________________________25
269269 _____________________________________________________________________________26
270270 _____________________________________________________________________________27
271271 ______ Awarding temporary custody of minor children as follows: 28
272272 Child's Name and Name of Person to Receive Custody 29
273273 _____________________________________________________________________________30
274274 _____________________________________________________________________________31
275275 _____________________________________________________________________________32
276276 _____________________________________________________________________________ 33
277277 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay child support in the amount of 34
278278 $_____________ per child per mon th 35
279279 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay spousal support in the amount of 36 HB1613
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282282
283283
284284 $_____________ per month 1
285285 ______ Excluding the petitioner's address from notice to the respondent 2
286286 ______ It is further requested that upon hearing, the court issue a full 3
287287 order of protection with the following provisions: (check all that apply) 4
288288 _____________ Excluding the respondent from the shared residence or from the 5
289289 residence of the petitioner or victim. Address of the 6
290290 residence:____________________________________________________ _______________ 7
291291 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employment, 8
292292 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of: 9
293293 Place of business: __________________________________________________________ 10
294294 Employment: ___________ ______________________________________________________ 11
295295 School: _____________________________________________________________________ 12
296296 Other (identify): ___________________________________________________________ 13
297297 ______ Awarding temporary custody of minor ch ildren as follows: 14
298298 Child's Name and Name of Person to Receive Custody 15
299299 _____________________________________________________________________________16
300300 _____________________________________________________________________________17
301301 _____________________________________________________________________________18
302302 _________________________ ____________________________________________________ 19
303303 _____________________________________________________________________________ 20
304304 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay child support in the amount of 21
305305 $_____________ per child per month 22
306306 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay spousal support in the amount of 23
307307 $_____________ per month 24
308308 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay filing fees, service fees, court costs 25
309309 and petitioner's attorney fees. 26
310310 ______ I am involved in pending litigation with the respondent in the case 27
311311 of: 28
312312 Case No.: ___________________________________________________________________ 29
313313 Circuit or District Judge: __________________________________________________ 30
314314 County or City: _____________________________________________________________ 31
315315 ______ I have previously filed a petition for an order of protection against 32
316316 the respondent in the following case or cases: 33
317317 Case No.: ___________________________________________________________________ 34
318318 Circuit Judge: ______________________________________________________________ 35
319319 County: _____________________________________________________________________ 36 HB1613
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322322
323323
324324 The petitioner under oath states that the facts stated in the above petition 1
325325 are true according to the petitioner's best knowledge and belief. 2
326326 ________________________ 3
327327 Date 4
328328 5
329329 ________________________ 6
330330 Petitioner's signature 7
331331 8
332332 STATE OF ARKANSAS 9
333333 COUNTY OF _____________________ 10
334334 Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____________ day of 11
335335 _____________, 20______. 12
336336 13
337337 ________________________ 14
338338 Notary Public 15
339339 My Commission Expires: 16
340340 ________________________". 17
341341 18
342342 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-205 is amended to read as follows: 19
343343 9-15-205. Relief generally — Duration. 20
344344 (a) At the hearing on the petition filed under this chapter, upon a 21
345345 finding of domestic abuse as defined in § 9-15-103, the court may provide the 22
346346 following relief: 23
347347 (1) Exclude the abusing party from the dwelling that the parties 24
348348 share or from the residence of the petitioner or victim; 25
349349 (2) Exclude the abusing party from the place of business or 26
350350 employment, school, or other location of the petitioner or victim; 27
351351 (3)(A) Award temporary custody or establish temporary visitation 28
352352 rights with regard to minor children of the parties. 29
353353 (B)(i) If a previous child custody or visitation 30
354354 determination has been made by another court with continuing jurisdiction 31
355355 with regard to the minor children of the parties, a temporary child custody 32
356356 or visitation determination may be made under subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this 33
357357 section. 34
358358 (ii) The order shall remain in effect until the 35
359359 court with original jurisdiction enters a subsequent order regarding the 36 HB1613
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363363
364364 children; 1
365365 (4) Order temporary support for minor children or a spouse, with 2
366366 such support to be enforced in the manner prescribed by law for other child 3
367367 support and alimony awards; 4
368368 (5) Allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fee as 5
369369 part of the costs; 6
370370 (6) Prohibit the abusing party directly or through an agent from 7
371371 contacting the petitioner or victim except under specific conditions named in 8
372372 the order; 9
373373 (7)(A) Direct the exclusive care, possession, custody, or 10
374374 control of any pet owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by: either party 11
375375 residing in the household; and 12
376376 (i) The petitioner; 13
377377 (ii) The respondent; or 14
378378 (iii) A minor residing in the residence or household 15
379379 of either the petitioner or the respondent; and 16
380380 (B) Order the respondent to refrain from: 17
381381 (i) Coming into contact with a pet under subdivision 18
382382 (7)(A) of this section; and 19
383383 (ii) Taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, 20
384384 molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise disposing 21
385385 of a pet under subdivision (7)(A) of this section; 22
386386 (8) Order the respondent to refrain from: 23
387387 (A) Taking any action that could result in the termination 24
388388 of any necessary utility services or other necessary services related to the 25
389389 family dwelling or the dwelling of the applicant; 26
390390 (B) Taking any action that could result in the 27
391391 cancellation, change of coverage, or change of beneficiary of any health, 28
392392 automobile, or homeowners insurance policy to the detriment of the petitioner 29
393393 or the dependent child or children in common of the petitioner and 30
394394 respondent; and 31
395395 (C) Transferring, encumbering, concealing, or disposing of 32
396396 specified property owned or leased by the petitioner; 33
397397 (9) Provide the petitioner with temporary possession of one (1) 34
398398 or more of the following that belongs in whole or in part to the petitioner 35
399399 or temporary, rightful possession of which should be with the petitioner: 36 HB1613
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402402
403403
404404 (A) An automobile; 1
405405 (B) A debit card; 2
406406 (C) A credit card; 3
407407 (D) A checkbook; 4
408408 (E) Documentation: 5
409409 (i) Related to financial accounts; 6
410410 (ii) Of health, automobile, or homeowners insurance; 7
411411 and 8
412412 (iii) For purposes of proving identity; 9
413413 (F) A key; and 10
414414 (G) Other necessary specified personal effects; 11
415415 (10) Order the respondent to complete a domestic violence 12
416416 intervention program under § 9-15-223; and 13
417417 (8)(11)(A) Order other relief as the court deems necessary or 14
418418 appropriate for the protection of a family or household member. 15
419419 (B) The relief may include, but not be limited to, 16
420420 enjoining and restraining the abusing party from doing, attempting to do, or 17
421421 threatening to do any act injuring, mistreating, molesting, or harassing the 18
422422 petitioner. 19
423423 (b) Any relief granted by the court for protection under the 20
424424 provisions of this chapter shall be for a fixed period of time not less than 21
425425 ninety (90) days nor more than ten (10) years in duration, in the discretion 22
426426 of the court, and may be renewed at a subsequent hearing upon proof and a 23
427427 finding by the court that the threat of domestic abuse still exists. 24
428428 (c) A request for relief or relief that is granted under this section 25
429429 shall not preclude the imposition of criminal sanctions or a party from 26
430430 seeking any other civil relief. 27
431431 28
432432 SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-219 is repealed. 29
433433 9-15-219. Order of protection — Course of control — Definitions. 30
434434 (a) As used in this section: 31
435435 (1)(A) “Course of control” means a pattern of behavior that in 32
436436 purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal 33
437437 liberty of a person. 34
438438 (B) “Course of control” includes without limitation the 35
439439 following: 36 HB1613
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442442
443443
444444 (i) Unreasonably isolating a person from his or her 1
445445 friends, relatives, or other sources of support; 2
446446 (ii) Unreasonably depriving a person of basic 3
447447 necessities; 4
448448 (iii) Unreasonably controlling, regulating, or 5
449449 monitoring a person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, 6
450450 economic resources, or access to resources; and 7
451451 (iv) Unreasonably compelling a person by 8
452452 intimidation, force, threat of force, or threat based on actual or suspected 9
453453 immigration status to engage in conduct from which the person has a right to 10
454454 abstain or to abstain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage; 11
455455 and 12
456456 (2)(A) “Disturbing the peace” means a pattern of behavior that 13
457457 unreasonably destroys the mental or emotional calm of a family or household 14
458458 member based on the totality of the circumstances. 15
459459 (B) “Disturbing the peace” includes without limitation 16
460460 course of control. 17
461461 (b) A court may enter an ex parte order enjoining a party from 18
462462 engaging in course of control or disturbing the peace, including without 19
463463 limitation through one (1) or more of the following acts: 20
464464 (1) Molesting the other party; 21
465465 (2) Attacking the other party; 22
466466 (3) Striking the other party; 23
467467 (4) Stalking the other party; 24
468468 (5) Threatening the other party; 25
469469 (6) Sexually assaulting the other party; 26
470470 (7) Battering the other party; 27
471471 (8) Credibly impersonating the other party; 28
472472 (9) Falsely impersonating the other party; 29
473473 (10) Harassing the other party; 30
474474 (11) Telephoning the other party with the intent to harass the 31
475475 other party; 32
476476 (12) Destroying the personal property of the other party; 33
477477 (13) Directly or indirectly contacting the other party with the 34
478478 intent to harass the other party; 35
479479 (14) Coming within a specified distance of the other party; 36 HB1613
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482482
483483
484484 (15) Disturbing the peace of the other party; 1
485485 (16) Disturbing the peace of a family member or household member 2
486486 of the other party; or 3
487487 (17) Any other act that the court determines should be enjoined. 4
488488 (c)(1) Upon a showing of good cause, an order of protection may 5
489489 include an order granting the petitioner the exclusive care, possession, or 6
490490 control of an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by: 7
491491 (A) The petitioner; 8
492492 (B) The respondent; or 9
493493 (C) A minor residing in the residence or household of 10
494494 either the petitioner or respondent. 11
495495 (2) The court may order the respondent to refrain from: 12
496496 (A) Coming into contact with the animal; or 13
497497 (B) Taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, 14
498498 molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise disposing 15
499499 of the animal. 16
500500 (d) This section does not limit any other remedy available to a 17
501501 petitioner by another provision of law. 18
502502 19
503503 SECTION 6. Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2, is amended 20
504504 to add an additional section to read as follows: 21
505505 9-15-220. Hearing — Remote appearance. 22
506506 (a) The court may allow the testi mony of a party or a child who is a 23
507507 subject of a proceeding under the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991 to be taken 24
508508 outside of the physical presence of any other party. 25
509509 (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any party's 26
510510 right to cross-examine a witness whose testimony is taken in a room other 27
511511 than the courtroom at the direction of an order issued under this section. 28
512512 29
513513 SECTION 7. Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2, is amended 30
514514 to add an additional section to read as follows: 31
515515 9-15-221. Duties of sheriff's office. 32
516516 (a) The sheriff's office in every county in the state shall designate 33
517517 at least one (1) officer to serve petitions, notices of hearing, ex parte 34
518518 orders of protection, and final orders of protection upon respondents. 35
519519 (b) If the respondent is located in a county other than the county 36 HB1613
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522522
523523
524524 where the petition was filed, the designated officer in the county where the 1
525525 respondent is located shall perform the duties included in subsection (d) of 2
526526 this section. 3
527527 (c) The circuit clerk shall immediately provide the petition, ex parte 4
528528 temporary order of protection, if granted, and notice of hearing to the 5
529529 designated officer. 6
530530 (d) The designated officer shall attempt to serve the respondent 7
531531 within two (2) hours of receiving the docume nts under this section. 8
532532 (e) The county sheriff shall immediately enter or cause to be entered 9
533533 orders and any subsequent modifications or cancellations into the order of 10
534534 protection registry under § 12 -12-215. 11
535535 (f) If the county sheriff does not have an A rkansas Crime Information 12
536536 Center terminal and entries are made by another agency that does have an 13
537537 Arkansas Crime Information Center terminal, that agency shall make entries 14
538538 immediately upon receipt of information from the county sheriff. 15
539539 16
540540 SECTION 8. Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2, is amended 17
541541 to add an additional section to read as follows: 18
542542 9-15-222. Order of protection — Violation — Expedited hearing. 19
543543 (a) An expedited hearing shall be scheduled when a motion for contempt 20
544544 is filed alleging that an order of protection has been violated. 21
545545 (b) Requesting relief under this section shall not preclude a party 22
546546 from seeking any other civil or criminal relief. 23
547547 24
548548 SECTION 9. Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2, is amended 25
549549 to add an additional section to read as follows: 26
550550 9-15-223. Legislative intent — Domestic violence intervention program 27
551551 — Definition. 28
552552 (a) The General Assembly finds that: 29
553553 (1) The purpose of a domestic violence intervention program or a 30
554554 batterer intervention program is to: 31
555555 (A) Hold batterers accountable; 32
556556 (B) Promote safety for victims of domestic abuse; and 33
557557 (C) Interrupt, avoid, and end domestic abuse; and 34
558558 (2) Participants in a domestic violence intervention program may 35
559559 need additional services for mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, 36 HB1613
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564564 parenting education, or other relevant issues. 1
565565 (b) As used in this section, "domestic violence intervention program" 2
566566 or "batterer intervention program" means a certified intervention program 3
567567 that serves to provide classes to individuals who commit acts of domestic 4
568568 abuse and that offers nonviolent strategies and reinforces values that 5
569569 promote respect and equality in an intimate partner relationship. 6
570570 (c) The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence shall be 7
571571 responsible for the certification of a domestic violence intervention program 8
572572 or batterer intervention program. 9
573573 (d) A certified intervention program shall operate within a framework 10
574574 of the following fundamental tenets: 11
575575 (1) Battering is a pattern o f behavior and not a singular event; 12
576576 (2) Battering is not: 13
577577 (A) An addiction or disease; or 14
578578 (B)(i) Caused by alcohol or substance abuse. 15
579579 (ii) However, because alcohol and substance abuse 16
580580 can be aggravating factors of domestic abuse, alcohol and substance abuse 17
581581 within the context of an intimate partner relationship should be addressed; 18
582582 (3) A batterer is solely responsible for his or her own actions 19
583583 and must be held accountable for his or her perpetration of domestic abuse; 20
584584 (4)(A) An intervention program service provider may provide 21
585585 factual information. 22
586586 (B) However, an intervention program service provider 23
587587 shall not participate as an advocate for a batterer in a court setting; and 24
588588 (5) Family reunification services to address bat tering behavior: 25
589589 (A) Are not appropriate as the primary means of 26
590590 intervention; and 27
591591 (B) Should not be used in the beginning stages of the 28
592592 intervention program or while domestic abuse is still occurring. 29
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