1041-S2 AMS JUD S2471.2

2SHB 1041 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Judiciary

                                              NOT ADOPTED 04/12/01

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that unlawful harassment directed at a child by a person under the age of eighteen is not acceptable and can have serious consequences.  The legislature further finds that some interactions between minors, such as "schoolyard scuffles," though not to be condoned, may not rise to the level of unlawful harassment.  It is the intent of the legislature that a protection order sought by the parent or guardian of a child as provided for in this chapter be available only when the alleged behavior of the person under the age of eighteen to be restrained rises to the level set forth in chapter 10.14 RCW.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 10.14.020 and 1999 c 27 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

    (1) "Unlawful harassment" means a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, harasses, or is detrimental to such person, and which serves no legitimate or lawful purpose.  The course of conduct shall be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and shall actually cause substantial emotional distress to the petitioner, or, when the course of conduct ((is contact by a person over age eighteen that)) would cause a reasonable parent to fear for the well-being of their child.

    (2) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose.  "Course of conduct" includes, in addition to any other form of communication, contact, or conduct, the sending of an electronic communication.  Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of "course of conduct."

    Sec. 3.  RCW 10.14.040 and 1995 c 292 s 2 and 1995 c 127 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

    There shall exist an action known as a petition for an order for protection in cases of unlawful harassment.

    (1) A petition for relief shall allege the existence of harassment and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances from which relief is sought.

    (2) A petition for relief may be made regardless of whether or not there is a pending lawsuit, complaint, petition, or other action between the parties.

    (3) All court clerks' offices shall make available simplified forms and instructional brochures.  Any assistance or information provided by clerks under this section does not constitute the practice of law and clerks are not responsible for incorrect information contained in a petition.

    (4) Filing fees are set in RCW 36.18.020, but no filing fee may be charged for a petition filed in an existing action or under an existing cause number brought under this chapter in the jurisdiction where the relief is sought.  Forms and instructional brochures shall be provided free of charge.

    (5) A person is not required to post a bond to obtain relief in any proceeding under this section.

    (6) The parent or guardian of a child under age eighteen may petition for an order of protection to restrain a person ((over)) age eighteen years or over from contact with that child upon a showing that contact with the person to be enjoined is detrimental to the welfare of the child.

(7) The parent or guardian of a child under the age of eighteen may petition for an order of protection to restrain a person under the age of eighteen years from contact with that child only in cases where the person to be restrained has been convicted of an offense against the child protected by the order or is under investigation for such an offense.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 10.14.120 and 1989 c 373 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    Any willful disobedience by ((the respondent)) a respondent age eighteen years or over of any temporary antiharassment protection order or civil antiharassment protection order issued under this chapter subjects the respondent to criminal penalties under this chapter.  Any respondent age eighteen years or over who willfully disobeys the terms of any order issued under this chapter may also, in the court's discretion, be found in contempt of court and subject to penalties under chapter 7.21 RCW.  Any respondent under the age of eighteen years who willfully disobeys the terms of an order issued under this chapter may, in the court's discretion, be found in contempt of court and subject to the sanction specified in RCW 7.21.030(4).

    Sec. 5.  RCW 10.14.170 and 1987 c 280 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

    Any respondent age eighteen years or over who willfully disobeys any civil antiharassment protection order issued pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

    Sec. 6.  RCW 7.21.030 and 1998 c 296 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The court may initiate a proceeding to impose a remedial sanction on its own motion or on the motion of a person aggrieved by a contempt of court in the proceeding to which the contempt is related.  Except as provided in RCW 7.21.050, the court, after notice and hearing, may impose a remedial sanction authorized by this chapter.

    (2) If the court finds that the person has failed or refused to perform an act that is yet within the person's power to perform, the court may find the person in contempt of court and impose one or more of the following remedial sanctions:

    (a) Imprisonment if the contempt of court is of a type defined in RCW 7.21.010(1) (b) through (d).  The imprisonment may extend only so long as it serves a coercive purpose.

    (b) A forfeiture not to exceed two thousand dollars for each day the contempt of court continues.

    (c) An order designed to ensure compliance with a prior order of the court.

    (d) Any other remedial sanction other than the sanctions specified in (a) through (c) of this subsection if the court expressly finds that those sanctions would be ineffectual to terminate a continuing contempt of court.

    (e) In cases under chapters 13.32A, 13.34, and 28A.225 RCW, commitment to juvenile detention for a period of time not to exceed seven days.  This sanction may be imposed in addition to, or as an alternative to, any other remedial sanction authorized by this chapter. This remedy is specifically determined to be a remedial sanction.

    (3) The court may, in addition to the remedial sanctions set forth in subsection (2) of this section, order a person found in contempt of court to pay a party for any losses suffered by the party as a result of the contempt and any costs incurred in connection with the contempt proceeding, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(4) If the court finds that a person under the age of eighteen years has willfully disobeyed the terms of an order issued under chapter 10.14 RCW, the court may find the person in contempt of court and may, as a sole sanction for such contempt, commit the person to juvenile detention for a period of time not to exceed seven days.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void."

2SHB 1041 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Judiciary

                                              NOT ADOPTED 04/12/01

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "harassment;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 10.14.020, 10.14.120, 10.14.170, and 7.21.030; reenacting and amending RCW 10.14.040; and creating new sections."

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