HB1912 Summary

• Courts are prohibited from requiring victims to seek legal sanctions including divorce, separation, paternity proceedings, or criminal charges before hearing protective order petitions.

• Hearing timeframe for protective orders reduced from 20 days to 14 days after filing, except when a minor child is removed (72-hour requirement).

• Protective orders cannot include mediation, couples counseling, family counseling, parenting classes, or joint victim-offender counseling sessions that may compromise victim safety.

• Peace officers must arrest individuals violating protective orders if reasonable cause exists, and courts must consider victim safety when setting bond for alleged violations.

• Administrative Office of the Courts required to provide annual domestic violence educational training for judges; bill effective November 1, 2013.