BILL REQ. #:  H-1640.1 

Read first time 02/18/2003.   Referred to Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law.

     AN ACT Relating to providing financial assistance for victims of domestic violence seeking protection orders; amending RCW 26.50.060; and adding a new section to chapter 10.14 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 10.14 RCW to read as follows:
     In addition to any other relief authorized under this chapter, the court may order that the respondent transfer, or otherwise provide, a specified amount of funds, as determined by the court, to the petitioner to provide temporary financial assistance to the petitioner if the court finds that such assistance is necessary. The court may order such a transfer of funds under this section only once per petition involving the petitioner and respondent. At any subsequent proceeding for dissolution, legal separation, or invalidity of the marriage, or any subsequent proceeding for the establishment or modification of child support or maintenance, the petitioner shall disclose the amount transferred under this section and the court or agency must consider that amount transferred in determining property distribution, support, or maintenance.

Sec. 2   RCW 26.50.060 and 2000 c 119 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Upon notice and after hearing, the court may provide relief as follows:
     (a) Restrain the respondent from committing acts of domestic violence;
     (b) Exclude the respondent from the dwelling that the parties share, from the residence, workplace, or school of the petitioner, or from the day care or school of a child;
     (c) Prohibit the respondent from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance from a specified location;
     (d) On the same basis as is provided in chapter 26.09 RCW, the court shall make residential provision with regard to minor children of the parties. However, parenting plans as specified in chapter 26.09 RCW shall not be required under this chapter;
     (e) Order the respondent to participate in a domestic violence perpetrator treatment program approved under RCW 26.50.150;
     (f) Order other relief as it deems necessary for the protection of the petitioner and other family or household members sought to be protected, including orders or directives to a peace officer, as allowed under this chapter;
     (g) Require the respondent to pay the administrative court costs and service fees, as established by the county or municipality incurring the expense and to reimburse the petitioner for costs incurred in bringing the action, including reasonable attorneys' fees;
     (h) Restrain the respondent from having any contact with the victim of domestic violence or the victim's children or members of the victim's household;
     (i) Require the respondent to submit to electronic monitoring. The order shall specify who shall provide the electronic monitoring services and the terms under which the monitoring must be performed. The order also may include a requirement that the respondent pay the costs of the monitoring. The court shall consider the ability of the respondent to pay for electronic monitoring;
     (j) Consider the provisions of RCW 9.41.800;
     (k) Order possession and use of essential personal effects. The court shall list the essential personal effects with sufficient specificity to make it clear which property is included; ((and))
     (l) Order use of a vehicle; and
     (m) Order that the respondent transfer, or otherwise provide, a specified amount of funds, as determined by the court, to the petitioner to provide temporary financial assistance to the petitioner if the court finds that such assistance is necessary. The court may order such a transfer of funds under this subsection only once per petition involving the petitioner and respondent. At any subsequent proceeding for dissolution, legal separation, or invalidity of the marriage, or any subsequent proceeding for the establishment or modification of child support or maintenance, the petitioner shall disclose the amount transferred under this subsection and the court or agency must consider that amount transferred in determining property distribution, support, or maintenance.
     (2) If a protection order restrains the respondent from contacting the respondent's minor children the restraint shall be for a fixed period not to exceed one year. This limitation is not applicable to orders for protection issued under chapter 26.09, 26.10, or 26.26 RCW. With regard to other relief, if the petitioner has petitioned for relief on his or her own behalf or on behalf of the petitioner's family or household members or minor children, and the court finds that the respondent is likely to resume acts of domestic violence against the petitioner or the petitioner's family or household members or minor children when the order expires, the court may either grant relief for a fixed period or enter a permanent order of protection.
     If the petitioner has petitioned for relief on behalf of the respondent's minor children, the court shall advise the petitioner that if the petitioner wants to continue protection for a period beyond one year the petitioner may either petition for renewal pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or may seek relief pursuant to the provisions of chapter 26.09 or 26.26 RCW.
     (3) If the court grants an order for a fixed time period, the petitioner may apply for renewal of the order by filing a petition for renewal at any time within the three months before the order expires. The petition for renewal shall state the reasons why the petitioner seeks to renew the protection order. Upon receipt of the petition for renewal the court shall order a hearing which shall be not later than fourteen days from the date of the order. Except as provided in RCW 26.50.085, personal service shall be made on the respondent not less than five days before the hearing. If timely service cannot be made the court shall set a new hearing date and shall either require additional attempts at obtaining personal service or permit service by publication as provided in RCW 26.50.085 or by mail as provided in RCW 26.50.123. If the court permits service by publication or mail, the court shall set the new hearing date not later than twenty-four days from the date of the order. If the order expires because timely service cannot be made the court shall grant an ex parte order of protection as provided in RCW 26.50.070. The court shall grant the petition for renewal unless the respondent proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent will not resume acts of domestic violence against the petitioner or the petitioner's children or family or household members when the order expires. The court may renew the protection order for another fixed time period or may enter a permanent order as provided in this section. The court may award court costs, service fees, and reasonable attorneys' fees as provided in subsection (1)(((f))) (g) of this section.
     (4) In providing relief under this chapter, the court may realign the designation of the parties as "petitioner" and "respondent" where the court finds that the original petitioner is the abuser and the original respondent is the victim of domestic violence and may issue an ex parte temporary order for protection in accordance with RCW 26.50.070 on behalf of the victim until the victim is able to prepare a petition for an order for protection in accordance with RCW 26.50.030.
     (5) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, no order for protection shall grant relief to any party except upon notice to the respondent and hearing pursuant to a petition or counter-petition filed and served by the party seeking relief in accordance with RCW 26.50.050.
     (6) The court order shall specify the date the order expires if any. The court order shall also state whether the court issued the protection order following personal service, service by publication, or service by mail and whether the court has approved service by publication or mail of an order issued under this section.
     (7) If the court declines to issue an order for protection or declines to renew an order for protection, the court shall state in writing on the order the particular reasons for the court's denial.