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Arkansas House Bill HB1829

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1829 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.
22 *LJH199* 03/18/2025 1:18:11 PM LJH199
33 State of Arkansas 1
44 95th General Assembly A Bill 2
55 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1829 3
66 4
77 By: Representatives Dalby, Evans 5
88 6
99 7
1010 For An Act To Be Entitled 8
1111 AN ACT TO AMEND THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT OF 1991; TO 9
1212 PROVIDE FOR REMOTE TESTIMONY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES IN 10
1313 A HEARING UNDER THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT OF 1991; TO 11
1414 AMEND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SERVICE OF PLEADINGS OR 12
1515 FILINGS UNDER AN ORDER OF PROTECTION MATTER; TO 13
1616 PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 14
1717 INTERVENTION PROGRAM; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 15
1818 16
1919 17
2020 Subtitle 18
2121 TO AMEND THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT OF 1991; 19
2222 TO PROVIDE FOR REMOTE TESTIMONY IN 20
2323 CERTAIN INSTANCES IN A HEARING UNDER THE 21
2424 DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT OF 1991; AND TO 22
2525 PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR A DOMESTIC 23
2626 VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM. 24
2727 25
2828 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 26
2929 27
3030 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-103 is amended to read as follows: 28
3131 9-15-103. Definitions. 29
3232 As used in this chapter: 30
3333 (1) “Commercial mobile radio service” means commercial mobile 31
3434 service as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332 , as it existed on January 1, 2025 ; 32
3535 (2) “County where the petitioner resides” means the county in 33
3636 which the petitioner physically resides at the time the petition is filed and 34
3737 may include a county where the petitioner is located for a short -term stay in 35
3838 a domestic violence shelter; 36 HB1829
3939
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4141 (3)(A) “Dating relationship” means a romantic or intimate social 1
4242 relationship between two (2) individuals that shall be determined by 2
4343 examining the following factors: 3
4444 (i) The length of the relationship; 4
4545 (ii) The type of the relationship; and 5
4646 (iii) The frequency of interaction between the two 6
4747 (2) individuals involved in the relationship. 7
4848 (B) “Dating relationship” does not include a casual 8
4949 relationship or ordinary fraternization between two (2) individuals in a 9
5050 business or social context; 10
5151 (4) “Domestic abuse” means: 11
5252 (A) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the 12
5353 infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault 13
5454 between family or household members; or 14
5555 (B) Any sexual conduct between family or household 15
5656 members, whether minors or adults, that constitutes a crime under the laws of 16
5757 this state; 17
5858 (C)(i) A pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect 18
5959 unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal liberty of a person, 19
6060 also known as "course of control". 20
6161 (ii) As used in subdivision (4)(C)(i) of this 21
6262 section, "course of control" means a pattern of behavior that in purpose or 22
6363 effect unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal liberty of a 23
6464 person and includes without limitation the unreasonable: 24
6565 (a) Isolation of a person from his or her 25
6666 friends, relatives, or other sources of support; 26
6767 (b) Deprivation of a person's basic 27
6868 necessities; 28
6969 (c) Control, regulation, or monitoring of a 29
7070 person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic 30
7171 resources, or access to resources; or 31
7272 (d) Compelling of a person by intimidation, 32
7373 force, threat of force, or threat based on actual or suspected immigration 33
7474 status to engage in conduct from which the person has a right to abstain or 34
7575 to abstain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage; or 35
7676 (D)(i) A pattern of behavior that unreasonably destroys 36 HB1829
7777
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7979 the mental or emotional calm of a family or household member based on the 1
8080 totality of the circumstances, also known as "disturbing the peace". 2
8181 (ii) As used in subdivision (4)(D)(i) of this 3
8282 section, "disturbing the peace" means a pattern of behavior that unreasonably 4
8383 destroys the mental or emotional calm of a family or household member based 5
8484 on the totality of the circumstances and includes without limitation: 6
8585 (a) Molesting the other party; 7
8686 (b) Attacking the other party; 8
8787 (c) Striking the other party; 9
8888 (d) Stalking the other party; 10
8989 (e) Threatening the other party; 11
9090 (f) Sexually assaulting the other party; 12
9191 (g) Battering the other party; 13
9292 (h) Credibly impersonating the other party; 14
9393 (i) Falsely impersonating the other party; 15
9494 (j) Harassing the other party; 16
9595 (k) Telephoning the other party with the 17
9696 intent to harass the other party; 18
9797 (l) Destroying the personal property of the 19
9898 other party; 20
9999 (m) Directly or indirectly contacting the 21
100100 other party with the intent to harass the other party; 22
101101 (n) Coming within a specified distance of the 23
102102 other party; 24
103103 (o) Disturbing the peace of the other party; 25
104104 (p) Disturbing the peace of a family member or 26
105105 household member of the other party; or 27
106106 (q) Any other act that the court determines 28
107107 should be enjoined; 29
108108 (5) “Family or household members” means spouses, former spouses, 30
109109 parents and children, persons related by blood within the fourth degree of 31
110110 consanguinity, in-laws, any children residing in the household, persons who 32
111111 presently or in the past have resided or cohabited together, persons who have 33
112112 or have had a child in common, and persons who are presently or in the past 34
113113 have been in a dating relationship together; 35
114114 (6) “In-laws” means persons related by marriage within the 36 HB1829
115115
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117117 second degree of consanguinity; and 1
118118 (7) “Wireless telephone service provider” means a commercial 2
119119 mobile radio service provider or reseller. 3
120120 4
121121 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-201 is amended to read as follows: 5
122122 9-15-201. Petition — Requirements generally. 6
123123 (a) All petitions under this chapter shall be verified. 7
124124 (b) The petition shall be filed with the circuit clerk in the county 8
125125 where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of abuse occurred, 9
126126 or where the respondent may be served. 10
127127 (c)(1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in the 11
128128 circuit court. 12
129129 (2) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in a 13
130130 pilot district court if the jurisdiction is established by the Supreme Court 14
131131 under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, and if the cases are assigned 15
132132 to the pilot district court through the administrative plan under Supreme 16
133133 Court Administrative Order No. 14. 17
134134 (d) A petition may be filed by: 18
135135 (1) Any adult family or household member on behalf of himself or 19
136136 herself; 20
137137 (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another 21
138138 family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; 22
139139 (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another 23
140140 family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or 24
141141 (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic -violence shelter or 25
142142 program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. 26
143143 (e)(d)(1) A petition for relief shall: 27
144144 (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; 28
145145 (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation 29
146146 between the parties; and 30
147147 (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order 31
148148 of protection under this chapter. 32
149149 (2) The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under 33
150150 oath that states the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse 34
151151 and the specific relief sought. 35
152152 (f)(e) The petition may be filed regardless of whether there is any 36 HB1829
153153
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155155 pending litigation between the parties. 1
156156 (g)(f) A person's right to file a petition , or obtain relief hereunder 2
157157 under this section shall not be affected by his or her leaving the residence 3
158158 or household to avoid abuse. 4
159159 5
160160 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-203 is amended to read as follows: 6
161161 9-15-203. Petition — Form. 7
162162 (a) The circuit clerk shall provide simplified forms and clerical 8
163163 assistance to help petitioners with the writing and filing of a petition 9
164164 under this chapter if the petitioner is not represented by counsel. 10
165165 (b)(1) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission 11
166166 shall develop an informational pamphlet that provides information on domestic 12
167167 violence resources in consultation with experts on domestic abuse prevention 13
168168 and intervention. 14
169169 (2) The circuit clerk shall provide the informational pamphlet 15
170170 developed under subdivision (b)(1) of this section. 16
171171 (b)(c) The petition form shall not require or suggest that a 17
172172 petitioner include his or her Social Security number or the Social Security 18
173173 number of the respondent in the petition. 19
174174 (c)(d)(1)(A) A petitioner may omit his or her home address or business 20
175175 address from all documents filed with the court. 21
176176 (B) If a petitioner omits his or her home address, the 22
177177 petitioner shall provide the court with a mailing address. 23
178178 (2) If disclosure of a petitioner's home address is necessary to 24
179179 determine jurisdiction or consider venue, the court may order the disclosure 25
180180 of the petitioner's home address: 26
181181 (A) After receiving the petitioner's consent; 27
182182 (B) Orally and in chambers, out of the presence of the 28
183183 respondent, and a sealed record to be made; or 29
184184 (C) After a hearing, if the court takes into consideration 30
185185 the safety of the petitioner and finds the disclosure in the interest of 31
186186 justice. 32
187187 (d)(e) The petition may be in substantially the following form: 33
188188 “Petition for Order of Protection 34
189189 35
190190 Case No. _____________ 36 HB1829
191191
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193193 1
194194 _____________ Petitioner's home address: 2
195195 Petitioner _____________________________ 3
196196 _____________________________ 4
197197 _____________ Petitioner's work address: 5
198198 Date of Birth _____________________________ 6
199199 7
200200 vs. 8
201201 9
202202 _____________ Respondent's home address: 10
203203 Respondent _____________________________ 11
204204 _____________________________ 12
205205 _____________ Respondent's work address: 13
206206 Date of Birth, _____________________________ 14
207207 if known _____________________________ 15
208208 16
209209 ______ I am the petitioner and ______ at least 18 years of age ______ under 17
210210 18 but emancipated. 18
211211 ______ I am filing on behalf of myself. 19
212212 ______ I am filing on behalf of a family or household member who is: 20
213213 ______ a minor(s): (list) ___________________________________________________ 21
214214 ______ an adjudicated incompetent person: (list) ___________________________ _ 22
215215 ______ The respondent is ______ at least 18 years of age ______ under 18 but 23
216216 emancipated. 24
217217 ______ I am an employee or volunteer of a domestic violence shelter or 25
218218 program, and I am filing on behalf of a minor. 26
219219 The respondent and petitioner (or victim if filing on behalf of a minor or 27
220220 incompetent person): (check all that apply) 28
221221 ______ Are spouses; ______ Are related by blood; 29
222222 ______ Are parent and child; ______ Currently reside together 30
223223 or cohabit; 31
224224 ______ Are former spouses; ______ Formerly resided together or 32
225225 cohabitated; 33
226226 ______ Have or have had a child in common; 34
227227 or ______ Are presently or in the past 35
228228 have been in a dating relationship. 36 HB1829
229229
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231231 If order of protection of children is requested: 1
232232 Children Date of Birth Address Relationship to Parties 2
233233 _____________________________________________________________________________3
234234 _____________________________________________________________________________4
235235 _____________________________________________________________________________5
236236 _____________________________________________________________________________ 6
237237 The respondent has committed domestic abuse to the petitioner or victim by 7
238238 the following acts: (describe) 8
239239 _____________________________________________________________________________9
240240 _____________________________________________________________________________10
241241 _____________________________________________________________________________11
242242 _____________________________________________________________________________ 12
243243 _____________________________________________________________________________13
244244 _____________________________________________________________________________14
245245 _____________________________________________________________________________15
246246 _____________________________________________________________________________ 16
247247 _____________________________________________________________________________ 17
248248 I am afraid of the respondent and: (describe) 18
249249 _____________________________________________________________________________19
250250 _____________________________________________________________________________20
251251 _____________________________________________________________________________21
252252 _____________________________________________________________________________ 22
253253 _____________________________________________________________________________23
254254 _____________________________________________________________________________ 24
255255 _____________ (1) There is an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse 25
256256 to me; or 26
257257 _____________ (2) The respondent is scheduled to be released from 27
258258 incarceration within thirty (30) days and upon the respondent's release there 28
259259 will be an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse to me. 29
260260 The reasons are as follows: (describe) 30
261261 _____________________________________________________________________________31
262262 _____________________________________________________________________________32
263263 _____________________________________________________________________________33
264264 _____________________________________________________________________________ 34
265265 _____________________________________________________________________________ 35
266266 ______ Petitioner requests that the court issue an ex parte order of 36 HB1829
267267
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269269 protection with the following provisions: (check all that apply) 1
270270 ______ Excluding the respondent from a shared residence or from the residence 2
271271 of the petitioner or victim. Address of residence: 3
272272 _____________________________________________________________________________ 4
273273 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employment, 5
274274 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of residence: 6
275275 _____________________________________________________________________________ 7
276276 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employment, 8
277277 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of: 9
278278 Place of business: __________________________________________________________ 10
279279 Employment: _________________________________________________________________ 11
280280 School: _____________________________________________________________________ 12
281281 Other (identify): ___________________________________________________________ 13
282282 Prohibiting the respondent, directly or through an agent, from contacting the 14
283283 petitioner or victim, except under the following conditions: 15
284284 _____________________________________________________________________________16
285285 _____________________________________________________________________________17
286286 _____________________________________________________________________________18
287287 ______ Awarding temporary custody of minor children as follows: 19
288288 Child's Name and Name of Person to Receive Custody 20
289289 _____________________________________________________________________________21
290290 _____________________________________________________________________________22
291291 _____________________________________________________________________________23
292292 _____________________________________________________________________________ 24
293293 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay child support in the amount of 25
294294 $_____________ per child per month 26
295295 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay spousal support in the amount of 27
296296 $_____________ per month 28
297297 ______ Excluding the petitioner's address from notice to the respondent 29
298298 ______ It is further requested that upon hearing, the court issue a full 30
299299 order of protection with the following provisions: (check all that apply) 31
300300 _____________ Excluding the respondent from the shared residence or from the 32
301301 residence of the petitioner or victim. Address of the 33
302302 residence:___________________________________________________________________ 34
303303 ______ Excluding the respondent from the place of business, employment, 35
304304 school, or other location of the petitioner or victim. Address of: 36 HB1829
305305
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307307 Place of business: __________________________________________________________ 1
308308 Employment: _________________________________________________________________ 2
309309 School: _____________________________________________________________________ 3
310310 Other (identify): ___________________________________________________________ 4
311311 ______ Awarding temporary custody of minor children as follows: 5
312312 Child's Name and Name of Person to Receive Custody 6
313313 _____________________________________________________________________________7
314314 _____________________________________________________________________________8
315315 _____________________________________________________________________________9
316316 _____________________________________________________________________________ 10
317317 _____________________________________________________________________________ 11
318318 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay child support in the amount of 12
319319 $_____________ per child per month 13
320320 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay spousal support in the amount of 14
321321 $_____________ per month 15
322322 ______ Requiring the respondent to pay filing fees, service fees, court costs 16
323323 and petitioner's attorney fees. 17
324324 ______ I am involved in pending litigation with the respondent in the case 18
325325 of: 19
326326 Case No.: ___________________________________________________________________ 20
327327 Circuit or District Judge: __________________________________________________ 21
328328 County or City: _____________________________________________________________ 22
329329 ______ I have previously filed a petition for an order of protection against 23
330330 the respondent in the following case or cases: 24
331331 Case No.: ___________________________________________________________________ 25
332332 Circuit Judge: ______________________________________________________________ 26
333333 County: _____________________________________________________________________ 27
334334 The petitioner under oath states that the facts stated in the above petition 28
335335 are true according to the petitioner's best knowledge and belief. 29
336336 ________________________ 30
337337 Date 31
338338 32
339339 ________________________ 33
340340 Petitioner's signature 34
341341 35
342342 STATE OF ARKANSAS 36 HB1829
343343
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345345 COUNTY OF _____________________ 1
346346 Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____________ day of 2
347347 _____________, 20______. 3
348348 4
349349 ________________________ 5
350350 Notary Public 6
351351 My Commission Expires: 7
352352 ________________________". 8
353353 9
354354 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-205(a), concerning the relief that a 10
355355 court may order upon a hearing for a petition for an order of protection 11
356356 under the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991, is amended to read as follows: 12
357357 (a) At the hearing on the petition filed under this chapter, upon a 13
358358 finding of domestic abuse as defined in § 9 -15-103, the court may provide the 14
359359 following relief: 15
360360 (1) Exclude the abusing party from the dwelling that the parties 16
361361 share or from the residence of the petitioner or victim; 17
362362 (2) Exclude the abusing party from the place of business or 18
363363 employment, school, or other location of the petitioner or victim; 19
364364 (3)(A) Award temporary custody or establish temporary visitation 20
365365 rights with regard to minor children of the parties. 21
366366 (B)(i) If a previous child custody or visitation 22
367367 determination has been made by another court with continuing jurisdiction 23
368368 with regard to the minor children of the parties, a temporary child custody 24
369369 or visitation determination may be made under subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this 25
370370 section. 26
371371 (ii) The order shall remain in effect until the court 27
372372 with original jurisdiction enters a subsequent order regarding the children; 28
373373 (4) Order temporary support for minor children or a spouse, with 29
374374 such support to be enforced in the manner prescribed by law for other child 30
375375 support and alimony awards; 31
376376 (5) Allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fee as 32
377377 part of the costs; 33
378378 (6) Prohibit the abusing party directly or through an agent from 34
379379 contacting the petitioner or victim except under specific conditions named in 35
380380 the order; 36 HB1829
381381
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383383 (7) Direct the exclusive care, possession, custody, or control 1
384384 of any pet animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by : either party 2
385385 residing in the household; and 3
386386 (A) The petitioner; 4
387387 (B) The respondent; or 5
388388 (C) A minor residing in the residence or household of 6
389389 either the petitioner or the respondent; 7
390390 (8)(A) The court may order the respondent to refrain from: 8
391391 (i) Coming into contact with the animal; or 9
392392 (ii) Taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, 10
393393 molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or disposing of the 11
394394 animal; 12
395395 (B) Subdivision (8)(A) of this section does not limit any 13
396396 other remedy available to a petitioner by another provision of law; 14
397397 (9) Prohibit the respondent from taking any action that could 15
398398 result in the termination of any necessary utility service or another 16
399399 necessary service related to the family dwelling or the dwelling of the 17
400400 petitioner; 18
401401 (10) Prohibit the respondent from taking any action that could 19
402402 result in the cancellation or change of coverage or change of beneficiary of 20
403403 any health, automobile, or homeowner's insurance policy to the detriment of 21
404404 the petitioner or a dependent child in common of the petitioner and 22
405405 respondent; 23
406406 (11) Prohibit the respondent from transferring, encumbering, 24
407407 concealing, or disposing of specified property owned or leased by the 25
408408 petitioner; 26
409409 (12) Provide the petitioner with temporary possession of an 27
410410 automobile, debit card, credit card, checkbook, documentation related to 28
411411 financial accounts, documentation related to the petitioner's health, 29
412412 documentation related to automobile or homeowner's insurance, documentation 30
413413 related to proving identity, a key, or other necessary specified personal 31
414414 effects; 32
415415 (13) Order the respondent to complete a domestic violence 33
416416 intervention program; 34
417417 (14) Order the appointment of an attorney ad litem under Admin. 35
418418 Order No. 15.1 to represent any minor child or children; or 36 HB1829
419419
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421421 (8)(15)(A) Order other relief as the court deems necessary or 1
422422 appropriate for the protection of a family or household member. 2
423423 (B) The relief may include , but not be limited to, without 3
424424 limitation enjoining and restraining the abusing party from doing, attempting 4
425425 to do, or threatening to do any act injuring, mistreating, molesting, or 5
426426 harassing the petitioner. 6
427427 7
428428 SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 9 -15-219 is repealed. 8
429429 9-15-219. Order of protection — Course of control — Definitions. 9
430430 (a) As used in this section: 10
431431 (1)(A) “Course of control” means a pattern of behavior that in 11
432432 purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal 12
433433 liberty of a person. 13
434434 (B) “Course of control” includes without limitation the 14
435435 following: 15
436436 (i) Unreasonably isolating a person from his or her 16
437437 friends, relatives, or other sources of support; 17
438438 (ii) Unreasonably depriving a person of basic 18
439439 necessities; 19
440440 (iii) Unreasonably controlling, regulating, or 20
441441 monitoring a person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, 21
442442 economic resources, or access to resources; and 22
443443 (iv) Unreasonably compelling a person by 23
444444 intimidation, force, threat of force, or threat based on actual or suspected 24
445445 immigration status to engage in conduct from which the person has a right to 25
446446 abstain or to abstain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage; 26
447447 and 27
448448 (2)(A) “Disturbing the peace” means a pattern of behavior that 28
449449 unreasonably destroys the mental or emotional calm of a family or household 29
450450 member based on the totality of the circumstances. 30
451451 (B) “Disturbing the peace” includes without limitation 31
452452 course of control. 32
453453 (b) A court may enter an ex parte order enjoining a party from 33
454454 engaging in course of control or disturbing the peace, including without 34
455455 limitation through one (1) or more of the following acts: 35
456456 (1) Molesting the other party; 36 HB1829
457457
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459459 (2) Attacking the other party; 1
460460 (3) Striking the other party; 2
461461 (4) Stalking the other party; 3
462462 (5) Threatening the other party; 4
463463 (6) Sexually assaulting the other party; 5
464464 (7) Battering the other party; 6
465465 (8) Credibly impersonating the other party; 7
466466 (9) Falsely impersonating the other party; 8
467467 (10) Harassing the other party; 9
468468 (11) Telephoning the other party with the intent to harass the 10
469469 other party; 11
470470 (12) Destroying the personal property of the other party; 12
471471 (13) Directly or indirectly contacting the other party with the 13
472472 intent to harass the other party; 14
473473 (14) Coming within a specified distance of the other party; 15
474474 (15) Disturbing the peace of the other party; 16
475475 (16) Disturbing the peace of a family member or household member 17
476476 of the other party; or 18
477477 (17) Any other act that the court determines should be enjoined. 19
478478 (c)(1) Upon a showing of good cause, an order of protection may 20
479479 include an order granting the petitioner the exclusive care, possession, or 21
480480 control of an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by: 22
481481 (A) The petitioner; 23
482482 (B) The respondent; or 24
483483 (C) A minor residing in the residence or household of 25
484484 either the petitioner or respondent. 26
485485 (2) The court may order the respondent to refrain from: 27
486486 (A) Coming into contact with the animal; or 28
487487 (B) Taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, 29
488488 molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise disposing 30
489489 of the animal. 31
490490 (d) This section does not limit any other remedy available to a 32
491491 petitioner by another provision of law. 33
492492 34
493493 SECTION 6. Arkansas Code Title 9, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2, is amended 35
494494 to add additional sections to read as follows: 36 HB1829
495495
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497497 9-15-220. Hearing — Ability of party or child to appear outside the 1
498498 physical presence of the other party. 2
499499 (a) The court may allow the testimony of a party or a child who is the 3
500500 subject of a proceeding under this chapter to be taken outside the physical 4
501501 presence of any other party. 5
502502 (b) This section does not limit any party's right to cross -examine a 6
503503 witness whose testimony is taken in a room other than the courtroom in 7
504504 accordance with an order made under this section. 8
505505 9
506506 9-15-221. Sheriff's office — Duties. 10
507507 (a) The sheriff’s office in every county in the state shall designate 11
508508 at least one (1) officer to serve petitions, notices of hearing, ex parte 12
509509 orders of protection, and final orders of protection on a respondent under 13
510510 this subchapter. 14
511511 (b)(1) The designated officer shall: 15
512512 (A) Attempt to serve the respondent within two (2) hours 16
513513 of receiving the document; 17
514514 (B) Keep a record of every attempt made to serve the 18
515515 respondent; 19
516516 (C) Maintain a log detailing each attempt to serve the 20
517517 respondent, including without limitation the date, time, and address related 21
518518 to each attempt made. 22
519519 (2) If the respondent is in a county other than the county where 23
520520 the petition was filed, the designated officer in the county where the 24
521521 respondent is located shall perform the duties included listed in subdivision 25
522522 (b)(1) of this section. 26
523523 (c) The circuit clerk shall immediately provide the petition, ex parte 27
524524 temporary order, if granted, and notice of hearing to the designated officer. 28
525525 (d)(1) The county sheriff shall immediately enter or cause to be 29
526526 entered any orders and subsequent modifications or cancellations made under 30
527527 this subchapter into the registry of orders of protection and temporary 31
528528 orders of protection order under § 12 -12-215. 32
529529 (2) If the county sheriff does not have a center terminal and 33
530530 entries are made by another agency that does have a center terminal, the 34
531531 agency with the center terminal shall make such entries immediately upon 35
532532 receipt of information from the county sheriff. 36 HB1829
533533
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535535 1
536536 9-15-222. Violation of order of protection — Expedited hearing. 2
537537 (a) An expedited hearing shall be scheduled when a motion for contempt 3
538538 is filed that alleges a violation of an order of protection. 4
539539 (b) A request for relief under this section shall not preclude a party 5
540540 from seeking any other civil or criminal relief. 6
541541 7
542542 9-15-223. Domestic violence intervention programs — Definition —8
543543 Purpose. 9
544544 (a) As used in this section, "batterer intervention program or a 10
545545 domestic violence intervention program” means a certified intervention 11
546546 program that: 12
547547 (1) Provides classes to individuals who commit acts of domestic 13
548548 violence or abuse; and 14
549549 (2) Offers nonviolent strategies and values that promote respect 15
550550 and equality in a dating relationship. 16
551551 (b) The purpose of a batterer intervention program or a domestic 17
552552 violence intervention program is to: 18
553553 (1) Hold batterers accountable; 19
554554 (2) Promote safety for victims; 20
555555 (3) Interrupt, avoid, and end domestic violence and abuse; and 21
556556 (4) Recognize that a participant in a batterer intervention 22
557557 program or a domestic violence intervention program may need additional 23
558558 services for mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, parenting 24
559559 education, or other issues, and aid that participant in the connection to 25
560560 those services. 26
561561 (c) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission shall 27
562562 be responsible for certification of a batterer intervention program or a 28
563563 domestic violence intervention program. 29
564564 (d) A batterer intervention program or a domestic violence 30
565565 intervention program shall operate within a framework of the following 31
566566 fundamental tenets: 32
567567 (1) Battery or domestic abuse is a pattern of behavior and not a 33
568568 singular event; 34
569569 (2) While battery or domestic abuse is not an addiction or 35
570570 disease and not caused by alcohol or substance abuse, alcohol or substance 36 HB1829
571571
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573573 abuse can be an aggravating factor and should be addressed; 1
574574 (3) A batterer or a domestic abuser is solely responsible for 2
575575 his or her actions and must be held accountable for his or her violence and 3
576576 abuse; 4
577577 (4) A batterer intervention program or a domestic violence 5
578578 intervention program service provider may provide factual information, but he 6
579579 or she shall not participate as an advocate for a batterer or a domestic 7
580580 abuser in a court setting; and 8
581581 (5) Family reunification services to address behavior that 9
582582 constitutes battery or domestic abuse are: 10
583583 (A) Inappropriate as the primary intervention; and 11
584584 (B) Should not be used in the beginning stages of the 12
585585 batterer intervention program or a domestic violence intervention program or 13
586586 while violence is still occurring. 14
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