HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2595

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Judiciary

Title:  An act relating to protection orders.

Brief Description:  Authorizing entry of protection order information in the judicial information system.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ogden, Lovick, Hankins, Radcliff, Mitchell and Kagi.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Judiciary:  2/3/00 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires frail elder and vulnerable adult protection orders to be entered into the Judicial Information System.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Carrell, Republican Co-Chair; Constantine, Democratic Co-Chair; Hurst, Democratic Vice Chair; Lambert, Republican Vice Chair; Cox; Dickerson; Esser; Kastama; Lantz; Lovick; McDonald and Schindler.

Staff:  Edie Adams (786-7180).

Background:

The Judicial Information System (JIS) was created to help provide courts with information for the issuance of protection orders and to help prevent the issuance of competing protection orders.  The JIS must include all protection orders issued in proceedings involving:  domestic violence protection orders, criminal no‑contact orders, anti‑harassment orders, dissolution of marriage, third-party custody actions, and paternity actions.  The information must include the names of the parties, the cause number, the criminal histories of the parties, and any other relevant information necessary to assist courts.

State law provides procedures and remedies for frail elder and vulnerable adults who may be suffering abuse or exploitation.  In addition to other remedies, a frail elder or vulnerable adult may file a petition with the court seeking a protection order against an abusive or exploitative person.  The court may issue a protection order that, in addition to other protections, restrains a person from abusing or exploiting the frail elder or vulnerable adult, excludes the person from the frail elder or vulnerable adult's residence, or prohibits the person from contacting the frail elder or vulnerable adult.

Summary of Bill:

The JIS must contain every frail elder or vulnerable adult protection order issued by the court.  The clerk of court must enter into the JIS any frail elder or vulnerable adult protection order issued by the court.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is simply a matter of having the same information available regarding vulnerable adult protection orders as is available for other victims.  It will supplement the court's information and allow the court to check for duplicative orders.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Association of Social Workers.