[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to protection orders; amending RCW 10.14.040, 10.14.100, 10.14.125, and 26.50.125; adding a new section to chapter 10.14 RCW; and repealing RCW 10.14.130.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 10.14.040 and 2001 c 260 s 3 are each 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 or as provided in section 2 of this act. 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 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 in superior court 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 adjudicated of an offense against the child protected by the order, or is under investigation or has been investigated for such an offense. In issuing a protection order under this subsection, the court shall consider, among the other facts of the case, the severity of the alleged offense, any continuing physical danger or emotional distress to the alleged victim, and the expense, difficulty, and educational disruption that would be caused by a transfer of the alleged offender to another school. The court may order that the person restrained in the order not attend the public or approved private elementary, middle, or high school attended by the person under the age of eighteen years protected by the order. In the event that the court orders a transfer of the restrained person to another school, the parents or legal guardians of the person restrained in the order are responsible for transportation and other costs associated with the change of school by the person restrained in the order. The court shall send notice of the restriction on attending the same school as the person protected by the order to the public or approved private school the person restrained by the order will attend and to the school the person protected by the order attends.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 10.14 RCW to read as follows:

No fees for filing or service of process may be charged by a public agency to petitioners seeking relief under this chapter from a person who has stalked them as that term is defined in RCW 9A.46.110, or from a person who has engaged in conduct that would constitute a sex offense as defined in RCW 9A.44.130, or from a person who is a family or household member as defined in RCW 26.50.010(2) who has engaged in conduct that would constitute domestic violence as defined in RCW 25.50.010(1). If the petitioner is entitled to proceed under this section, the court may require the respondent to pay the filing fee and costs, including services fees, to the county or municipality incurring the expense.

Sec. 3. RCW 10.14.100 and 2001 c 311 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An order issued under this chapter shall be personally served upon the respondent, except as provided in subsections (5) and (7) of this section.

(2) The sheriff of the county or the peace officers of the municipality in which the respondent resides shall serve the respondent personally unless the petitioner elects to have the respondent served by a private party.

(3) If the sheriff or municipal peace officer cannot complete service upon the respondent within ten days, the sheriff or municipal peace officer shall notify the petitioner.

(4) Returns of service under this chapter shall be made in accordance with the applicable court rules.

(5) If an order entered by the court recites that the respondent appeared in person before the court, the necessity for further service is waived and proof of service of that order is not necessary. The court's order, entered after a hearing, need not be served on a respondent who fails to appear before the court, if material terms of the order have not changed from those contained in the temporary order, and it is shown to the court's satisfaction that the respondent has previously been personally served with the temporary order.

(6) Except in cases where the petitioner has fees waived under section 2 of this act or is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, municipal police departments serving documents as required under this chapter may collect the same fees for service and mileage authorized by RCW 36.18.040 to be collected by sheriffs.

(7) If the court previously entered an order allowing service by publication of the notice of hearing and temporary order of protection pursuant to RCW 10.14.085, the court may permit service by publication of the order of protection issued under RCW 10.14.080. Service by publication must comply with the requirements of RCW 10.14.085.

Sec. 4. RCW 10.14.125 and 1992 c 143 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

The court may permit service by publication under this chapter only if the petitioner pays the cost of publication or if the petitioner's costs have been waived pursuant to section 2 of this act, unless the county legislative authority allocates funds for service of process by publication for petitioners who are granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

Sec. 5. RCW 26.50.125 and 1995 c 246 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the court may permit service by publication or by mail under this chapter only if the petitioner pays the cost of publication or mailing unless the county legislative authority allocates funds for service of process by publication or by mail for indigent petitioners.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW 10.14.130 (Exclusion of certain actions) and 1987 c 280 s 13 are each repealed.