CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5134

 

 

                   Chapter 184, Laws of 1999

 

 

                        56th Legislature

                      1999 Regular Session

 

 

FOREIGN PROTECTION ORDER FULL FAITH AND CREDIT ACT

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/25/99

Passed by the Senate April 21, 1999

  YEAS 44   NAYS 0

 

 

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

 

Passed by the House April 8, 1999

  YEAS 96   NAYS 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5134 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

             CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

            TONY M. COOK

                            Secretary

 

 

 

              FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

 

 

Approved May 5, 1999 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.  

                                FILED          

 

 

              May 5, 1999 - 4:14 p.m.

 

 

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                 Secretary of State

                 State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5134

          _______________________________________________

 

                      AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

             Passed Legislature - 1999 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Long, Patterson, Roach, Costa, Thibaudeau, Goings, McAuliffe, Kline, Brown, McCaslin, Heavey, Johnson, Prentice, Snyder and Kohl‑Welles)

 

Read first time 02/25/1999.

Removing barriers faced by persons entitled to foreign protection orders.  


    AN ACT Relating to full faith and credit for foreign protection orders; amending RCW 26.10.220, 26.26.138, 26.50.010, and 10.31.100; adding a new chapter to Title 26 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  CITATION.  This act may be known and cited as the foreign protection order full faith and credit act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.  The problem of women fleeing across state lines to escape their abusers is epidemic in the United States.  In 1994, Congress enacted the violence against women act (VAWA) as Title IV of the violent crime control and law enforcement act (P.L. 103-322).  The VAWA provides for improved prevention and prosecution of violent crimes against women and children.  Section 2265 of the VAWA (Title IV, P.L. 103-322) provides for nation-wide enforcement of civil and criminal protection orders in state and tribal courts throughout the country. 

    The legislature finds that existing statutes may not provide an adequate mechanism for victims, police, prosecutors, and courts to enforce a foreign protection order in our state.  It is the intent of the legislature that the barriers faced by persons entitled to protection under a foreign protection order will be removed and that violations of foreign protection orders be criminally prosecuted in this state.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  DEFINITIONS.  The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

    (1)  "Domestic or family violence" includes, but is not limited to, conduct when committed by one family member against another that is classified in the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred as a domestic violence crime or a crime committed in another jurisdiction that under the laws of this state would be classified as domestic violence under RCW 10.99.020.

    (2)  "Family or household members" means spouses, former spouses, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship, persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and persons who have a biological or legal parent‑child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.

    (3) "Foreign protection order" means an injunction or other order  related to domestic or family violence, harassment, sexual abuse, or stalking, for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or  harassment against, or contact or communication with or physical proximity to another person issued by a court of another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia, or any United States military tribunal, or a tribal court, in a civil or criminal action.

    (4) "Harassment" includes, but is not limited to, conduct that is classified in the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred as harassment or a crime committed in another jurisdiction that under the laws of this state would be classified as harassment under RCW 9A.46.040.

    (5) "Judicial day" does not include Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays in Washington state.

    (6) "Person entitled to protection" means a person, regardless of whether the person was the moving party in the foreign jurisdiction, who is benefited by the foreign protection order.

    (7) "Person under restraint" means a person, regardless of whether the person was the responding party in the foreign jurisdiction, whose ability to contact or communicate with another person, or to be physically close to another person, is restricted by the foreign protection order. 

    (8) "Sexual abuse" includes, but is not limited to, conduct that is classified in the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred as a sex offense or a crime committed in another jurisdiction that under the laws of this state would be classified as a sex offense under RCW 9.94A.030.

    (9) "Stalking" includes, but is not limited to, conduct that is classified in the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred as stalking or a crime committed in another jurisdiction that under the laws of this state would be classified as stalking under RCW 9A.46.110.

    (10) "Washington court" includes the superior, district, and municipal courts of the state of Washington.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  VALID FOREIGN PROTECTION ORDERS.  A foreign protection order is valid if the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and matter under the law of the state, territory, possession, tribe, or United States military tribunal.  There is a presumption in favor of validity where an order appears authentic on its face.

    A person under restraint must be given reasonable notice and the opportunity to be heard before the order of the foreign state, territory, possession, tribe, or United States military tribunal was issued, provided, in the case of ex parte orders, notice and opportunity to be heard was given as soon as possible after the order was issued, consistent with due process.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  FILING OF FOREIGN PROTECTION ORDERS.  (1) A person entitled to protection who has a valid foreign protection order may file that order by presenting a certified, authenticated, or exemplified copy of the foreign protection order to a clerk of the court of a Washington court in which the person entitled to protection resides or to a clerk of the court of a Washington court where the person entitled to protection believes enforcement may be necessary.  Any out-of-state department, agency, or court responsible for maintaining protection order records, may by facsimile or electronic transmission send a reproduction of the foreign protection order to the clerk of the court of Washington as long as it contains a facsimile or digital signature by any person authorized to make such transmission.

    (2) Filing of a foreign protection order with a court and entry of the foreign protection order into any computer‑based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants are not prerequisites for enforcement of the foreign protection order.

    (3) The court shall accept the filing of a foreign protection order without a fee or cost.

    (4) The clerk of the court shall provide information to a person entitled to protection of the availability of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other services to victims in the community where the court is located and in the state.

    (5) The clerk of the court shall assist the person entitled to protection in completing an information form that must include, but need not be limited to, the following:

    (a) The name of the person entitled to protection and any other protected parties;

    (b) The name and address of the person who is subject to the restraint provisions of the foreign protection order;

    (c) The date the foreign protection order was entered;

    (d) The date the foreign protection order expires;

    (e) The relief granted under . . . . . . . . . . (specify the relief awarded and citations thereto, and designate which of the violations are arrestable offenses);

    (f) The judicial district and contact information for court administration for the court in which the foreign protection order was entered;

    (g) The social security number, date of birth, and description of the person subject to the restraint provisions of the foreign protection order;

    (h) Whether the person who is subject to the restraint provisions of the foreign protection order is believed to be armed and dangerous;

    (i) Whether the person who is subject to the restraint provisions of the foreign protection order was served with the order, and if so, the method used to serve the order;

    (j) The type and location of any other legal proceedings between the person who is subject to the restraint provisions and the person entitled to protection.

    An inability to answer any of the above questions does not preclude the filing or enforcement of a foreign protection order.

    (6) The clerk of the court shall provide the person entitled to protection with a copy bearing proof of filing with the court.

    (7) Any assistance provided by the clerk under this section does not constitute the practice of law.  The clerk is not liable for any incomplete or incorrect information that he or she is provided.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  TRANSMITTAL OF FILED FOREIGN PROTECTION ORDERS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.  (1) The clerk of the court shall forward a copy of a foreign protection order that is filed under this chapter on or before the next judicial day to the county sheriff along with the completed information form.  The clerk may forward the foreign protection order to the county sheriff by facsimile or electronic transmission.

    Upon receipt of a filed foreign protection order, the county sheriff shall immediately enter the foreign protection order into any computer‑based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants.  The foreign protection order must remain in the computer for the period stated in the order.  The county sheriff shall only expunge from the computer‑based criminal intelligence information system foreign protection orders that are expired, vacated, or superseded.  Entry into the law enforcement information system constitutes notice to all law enforcement agencies of the existence of the foreign protection order.  The foreign protection order is fully enforceable in any county in the state.

    (2) The information entered into the computer‑based criminal intelligence information system must include, if available, notice to law enforcement whether the foreign protection order was served and the method of service.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  PEACE OFFICER IMMUNITY.  A peace officer or a peace officer's legal advisor may not be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest under this chapter if the peace officer or the peace officer's legal advisor acted in good faith and without malice.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  FEES NOT PERMITTED.  A public agency may not charge a fee for filing or preparation of certified, authenticated, or exemplified copies to a person entitled to protection who seeks relief under this chapter or to a foreign prosecutor or a foreign law enforcement agency seeking to enforce a protection order entered by a Washington court.  A person entitled to protection and foreign prosecutors or law enforcement agencies must be provided the necessary number of certified, authenticated, or exemplified copies at no cost.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  VIOLATION OF FOREIGN ORDERS.  (1) Whenever a foreign protection order is granted to a person entitled to protection and the person under restraint knows of the foreign protection order, a violation of a provision prohibiting the person under restraint from contacting or communicating with another person, or of a provision excluding the person under restraint from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or a violation of any provision for which the foreign protection order specifically indicates that a violation will be a crime, is a gross misdemeanor except as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section.  Upon conviction, and in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court may require the person under restraint to submit to electronic monitoring.  The court shall specify who will provide the electronic monitoring services, and the terms under which the monitoring will be performed.  The order also may include a requirement that the person under restraint pay the costs of the monitoring.  The court shall consider the ability of the convicted person to pay for electronic monitoring.

    (2) A peace officer shall arrest without a warrant and take into custody a person when the peace officer has probable cause to believe that a foreign protection order has been issued of which the person under restraint has knowledge and the person under restraint has violated a provision of the foreign protection order that prohibits the person under restraint from contacting or communicating with another person, or a provision that excludes the person under restraint from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or a violation of any provision for which the foreign protection order specifically indicates that a violation will be a crime.  Presence of the order in the law enforcement computer‑based criminal intelligence information system is not the only means of establishing knowledge of the order.

    (3) An assault that is a violation of a valid foreign protection order that does not amount to assault in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.36.011 or 9A.36.021 is a class C felony, and conduct in violation of a valid foreign protection order issued under this chapter that is reckless and creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person is a class C felony.

    (4) A violation of a valid foreign protection order is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no‑contact order issued under chapter 10.99 RCW, a domestic violence protection order issued under chapter 26.09, 26.10, 26.26, or 26.50 RCW, or a federal or out‑of‑state order that is comparable to a no‑contact or protection order issued under Washington law.  The previous convictions may involve the same person entitled to protection or other person entitled to protection specifically protected by the no‑contact orders or protection orders the offender violated.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES.  (1) Any disputes regarding provisions in foreign protection orders dealing with custody of children, residential placement of children, or visitation with children shall be resolved judicially.  The proper venue and jurisdiction for such judicial proceedings shall be determined in accordance with chapter 26.27 RCW and in accordance with the parental kidnapping prevention act, 28 U.S.C. 1738A.

    (2) A peace officer shall not remove a child from his or her current placement unless:

    (a) A writ of habeas corpus to produce the child has been issued by a superior court of this state; or

    (b) There is probable cause to believe that the child is abused or neglected and the child would be injured or could not be taken into custody if it were necessary to first obtain a court order pursuant to RCW 13.34.050.

 

    Sec. 11.  RCW 26.10.220 and 1996 c 248 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Whenever a restraining order is issued under this chapter, and the person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of the provisions restricting the person from acts or threats of violence or of a provision restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering the residence, workplace, school, or day care of another is a gross misdemeanor.

    (2) A person is deemed to have notice of a restraining order if:

    (a) The person to be restrained or the person's attorney signed the order;

    (b) The order recites that the person to be restrained or the person's attorney appeared in person before the court;

    (c) The order was served upon the person to be restrained; or

    (d) The peace officer gives the person oral or written evidence of the order by reading from it or handing to the person a certified copy of the original order, certified to be an accurate copy of the original by a notary public or by the clerk of the court.

    (3) A peace officer shall verify the existence of a restraining order by:

    (a) Obtaining information confirming the existence and terms of the order from a law enforcement agency; or

    (b) Obtaining a certified copy of the order, certified to be an accurate copy of the original by a notary public or by the clerk of the court.

    (4) A peace officer shall arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that:

    (a) A restraining order has been issued under this chapter;

    (b) The respondent or person to be restrained knows of the order; and

    (c) The person to be arrested has violated the terms of the order restraining the person from acts or threats of violence or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering the residence, workplace, school, or day care of another.

    (5) It is a defense to prosecution under subsection (1) of this section that the court order was issued contrary to law or court rule.

    (6) No peace officer may be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest under subsection (4) of this section if the officer acts in good faith and without malice.

 

    Sec. 12.  RCW 26.26.138 and 1996 c 248 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Whenever a restraining order is issued under this chapter, and the person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of the provisions restricting the person from acts or threats of violence or of a provision restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering the residence, workplace, school, or day care of another is a gross misdemeanor.

    (2) A person is deemed to have notice of a restraining order if:

    (a) The person to be restrained or the person's attorney signed the order;

    (b) The order recites that the person to be restrained or the person's attorney appeared in person before the court;

    (c) The order was served upon the person to be restrained; or

    (d) The peace officer gives the person oral or written evidence of the order by reading from it or handing to the person a certified copy of the original order, certified to be an accurate copy of the original by a notary public or by the clerk of the court.

    (3) A peace officer shall verify the existence of a restraining order by:

    (a) Obtaining information confirming the existence and terms of the order from a law enforcement agency; or

    (b) Obtaining a certified copy of the order, certified to be an accurate copy of the original by a notary public or by the clerk of the court.

    (4) A peace officer shall arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that:

    (a) A restraining order has been issued under this chapter;

    (b) The respondent or person to be restrained knows of the order; and

    (c) The person to be arrested has violated the terms of the order restraining the person from acts or threats of violence or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering the residence, workplace, school, or day care of another.

    (5) It is a defense to prosecution under subsection (1) of this section that the court order was issued contrary to law or court rule.

    (6) No peace officer may be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest under subsection (4) of this section if the officer acts in good faith and without malice.

 

    Sec. 13.  RCW 26.50.010 and 1995 c 246 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings given them:

    (1) "Domestic violence" means:  (a) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members; (b) sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or (c) stalking as defined in RCW 9A.46.110 of one family or household member by another family or household member.

    (2) "Family or household members" means spouses, former spouses, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship, persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a ((respondent)) person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.

    (3) "Dating relationship" means a social relationship of a romantic nature.  Factors that the court may consider in making this determination include:  (a) The length of time the relationship has existed; (b) the nature of the relationship; and (c) the frequency of interaction between the parties.

    (4) "Court" includes the superior, district, and municipal courts of the state of Washington.

    (5) "Judicial day" does not include Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays.

    (6) "Electronic monitoring" means a program in which a person's presence at a particular location is monitored from a remote location by use of electronic equipment.

    (7) "Essential personal effects" means those items necessary for a person's immediate health, welfare, and livelihood.  "Essential personal effects" includes but is not limited to clothing, cribs, bedding, documents, medications, and personal hygiene items.

 

    Sec. 14.  RCW 10.31.100 and 1997 c 66 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a felony shall have the authority to arrest the person without a warrant.  A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant for committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor only when the offense is committed in the presence of the officer, except as provided in subsections (1) through (10) of this section.

    (1) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, involving physical harm or threats of harm to any person or property or the unlawful taking of property or involving the use or possession of cannabis, or involving the acquisition, possession, or consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one years under RCW 66.44.270, or involving criminal trespass under RCW 9A.52.070 or 9A.52.080, shall have the authority to arrest the person.

    (2) A police officer shall arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that:

    (a) An order has been issued of which the person has knowledge under RCW 10.99.040(2), 10.99.050, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.10.040, 26.10.115, 26.44.063, chapter 26.26 RCW, or chapter 26.50 RCW restraining the person and the person has violated the terms of the order restraining the person from acts or threats of violence or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering a residence, workplace, school, or day care or, in the case of an order issued under RCW 26.44.063, imposing any other restrictions or conditions upon the person; or

    (b) A foreign protection order, as defined in section 3 of this act, has been issued of which the person under restraint has knowledge and the person under restraint has violated a provision of the foreign protection order prohibiting the person under restraint from contacting or communicating with another person, or of a provision excluding the person under restraint from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, or a violation of any provision for which the foreign protection order specifically indicates that a violation will be a crime; or

    (c) The person is sixteen years or older and within the preceding four hours has assaulted a family or household member as defined in RCW 10.99.020 and the officer believes:  (i) A felonious assault has occurred; (ii) an assault has occurred which has resulted in bodily injury to the victim, whether the injury is observable by the responding officer or not; or (iii) that any physical action has occurred which was intended to cause another person reasonably to fear imminent serious bodily injury or death.  Bodily injury means physical pain, illness, or an impairment of physical condition.  When the officer has probable cause to believe that family or household members have assaulted each other, the officer is not required to arrest both persons.  The officer shall arrest the person whom the officer believes to be the primary physical aggressor.  In making this determination, the officer shall make every reasonable effort to consider:  (i) The intent to protect victims of domestic violence under RCW 10.99.010; (ii) the comparative extent of injuries inflicted or serious threats creating fear of physical injury; and (iii) the history of domestic violence between the persons involved.

    (3) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person:

    (a) RCW 46.52.010, relating to duty on striking an unattended car or other property;

    (b) RCW 46.52.020, relating to duty in case of injury to or death of a person or damage to an attended vehicle;

    (c) RCW 46.61.500 or 46.61.530, relating to reckless driving or racing of vehicles;

    (d) RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, relating to persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;

    (e) RCW 46.20.342, relating to driving a motor vehicle while operator's license is suspended or revoked;

    (f) RCW 46.61.5249, relating to operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.

    (4) A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vehicle accident may arrest the driver of a motor vehicle involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed in connection with the accident a violation of any traffic law or regulation.

    (5) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of RCW 88.12.025 shall have the authority to arrest the person.

    (6) An officer may act upon the request of a law enforcement officer in whose presence a traffic infraction was committed, to stop, detain, arrest, or issue a notice of traffic infraction to the driver who is believed to have committed the infraction.  The request by the witnessing officer shall give an officer the authority to take appropriate action under the laws of the state of Washington.

    (7) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing any act of indecent exposure, as defined in RCW 9A.88.010, may arrest the person.

    (8) A police officer may arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that an order has been issued of which the person has knowledge under chapter 10.14 RCW and the person has violated the terms of that order.

    (9) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has, within twenty-four hours of the alleged violation, committed a violation of RCW 9A.50.020 may arrest such person.

    (10) A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person illegally possesses or illegally has possessed a firearm or other dangerous weapon on private or public elementary or secondary school premises shall have the authority to arrest the person.

    For purposes of this subsection, the term "firearm" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the term "dangerous weapon" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.250 and 9.41.280(1) (c) through (e).

    (11) Except as specifically provided in subsections (2), (3), (4), and (6) of this section, nothing in this section extends or otherwise affects the powers of arrest prescribed in Title 46 RCW.

    (12) No police officer may be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest pursuant to RCW 10.31.100 (2) or (8) if the police officer acts in good faith and without malice.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15.  Sections 1 through 10 and 16 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 26 RCW.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16.  CAPTIONS NOT LAW.  Captions used in this chapter are not part of the law.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 17.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.


    Passed the Senate April 21, 1999.

    Passed the House April 8, 1999.

Approved by the Governor May 5, 1999.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 5, 1999.