HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6141

                       As Passed House

                        March 3, 1992

Title:  An act relating to venue for antiharassment petitions.

Brief Description:  Allowing an antiharassment action to be brought in the appropriate judicial district.

Sponsor(s):  By Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Erwin, A. Smith, Madsen and Gaspard).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 21, 1992, DP;

Passed House, March 3, 1992, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; D. Sommers; Tate; and Vance.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  In 1991, the district courts were given jurisdiction over antiharassment petitions.

An antiharassment petition may be filed in any county in which the alleged acts of unlawful harassment occurred or in any county where the respondent resides or may be served.  In most counties, there is only one, countywide, district court district. 

Some counties, however, have more than one district court judicial district within their county boundaries. Antiharassment petitions have been filed in judicial districts in which none of the parties involved lived and in which the alleged acts of harassment did not occur.  There is concern that these filings are intended to harass and inconvenience respondents by requiring them to travel long distances to court.

Summary of Bill:  The venue statute for filing antiharassment petitions is amended.  References to "county" are replaced with references to "judicial district of the county."

A petition may be filed in the judicial district of the county in which the alleged acts of harassment occurred or in the judicial district of the county in which the respondent resides.  An antiharassment action may also be brought in the judicial district of the county in which a respondent may be served if it is the same county or judicial district where a respondent resides.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.