HI HB2609

Requires courts to hold a separate probable cause hearing when a person is charged with abuse of a family or household member or refusal to comply with a police officer's lawful order under domestic violence protocols

Court must find probable cause that the offense was committed, the person committed it, and the person will benefit from domestic violence intervention before ordering such programs

Adds mandatory referral to domestic violence intervention programs at the probable cause hearing stage, in addition to any programs ordered at sentencing

Maintains existing penalties: 48-hour minimum jail sentence for first offense and 30-day minimum for second offense within one year, with class C felony charges for third or subsequent offenses within two years

Effective upon approval with no retroactive application to proceedings begun before the Act's effective date