SB1250 - 541R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 13, chapter 14, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-1429, to read:

START_STATUTE13-1429. Sexual assault protective order; procedure; contents; arrest for violation; civil liability; definition

A. A person may file a verified petition, as in civil actions, with a magistrate, justice of the peace or superior court judge for a sexual assault protective order. If the person is a minor, the parent, legal guardian or person who has legal custody of the minor shall file the petition unless the court determines otherwise. The petition shall name the parent, guardian or custodian as the plaintiff and the minor is a specifically designated person for the purposes of subsection G of this section. If a person is either temporarily or permanently unable to request an order, a third party may request a sexual assault protective order on behalf of the plaintiff. After the request, the judicial officer shall determine if the third party is an appropriate requesting party for the plaintiff. For the purposes of this section, regardless of the location of the plaintiff or defendant, any court in this state may issue or enforce a sexual assault protective order.

B. A sexual assault protective order may not be granted:

1. Unless the party who requests the order files a written verified petition for an order.

2. Against a person who is less than twelve years of age unless the order is granted by the juvenile division of the superior court.

3. Against more than one defendant.

C. The petition shall state the:

1. Name of the plaintiff. The plaintiff's address and contact information shall be disclosed to the court for purposes of service and notification. The address and contact information may not be listed on the petition. Whether or not the court issues an order of protection, the plaintiff's address and contact information shall be maintained in a separate document or automated database and is not subject to release or disclosure by the court or any form of public access except as ordered by the court.

2. Name and address, if known, of the defendant.

3. Specific statement, including dates, of the sexual contact that is alleged.

4. Relationship, if any, between the parties.

5. Name of the court in which any prior or pending proceeding or order was sought or issued concerning the conduct that is sought to be restrained.

6. Desired relief.

D. A fee may not be charged for filing a petition under this section or for service of process. Each court shall provide, without charge, forms for purposes of this section for assisting parties without counsel. The court shall make reasonable efforts to provide the appropriate information to both parties on emergency and counseling services that are available in the local area.

E. The court shall review the petition, any other pleadings on file and any evidence offered by the plaintiff, including any evidence of electronic contact or communication, to determine whether the orders requested should issue without further hearing. The court shall issue a protective order under subsection G of this section if the court determines that there is reasonable cause to believe the defendant engaged in sexual contact with the plaintiff without consent within the past year or within a longer period of time if the court finds that good cause exists to consider a longer period.

F. For the purposes of determining the period of time under subsection E of this section, any time that the defendant has been incarcerated or has lived out of this state may not be counted. If the court denies the requested relief, it may schedule a further hearing within ten days, with reasonable notice to the defendant.

G. If a court issues a sexual assault protective order, the court may do any of the following:

1. Restrain the defendant from contacting the plaintiff or other specifically designated persons and from coming near the residence, place of employment or school of the plaintiff or other specifically designated locations or persons on a showing that there is reasonable cause to believe that physical harm may otherwise result.

2. If the court finds that the defendant is a credible threat to the physical safety of the plaintiff or other specifically designated persons, prohibit the defendant from possessing or purchasing a firearm for the duration of the order. If the court prohibits the defendant from possessing a firearm, the court shall also order the defendant to transfer any firearm owned or possessed by the defendant immediately after service of the order to the appropriate law enforcement agency for the duration of the order. If the defendant does not immediately transfer the firearm, the defendant shall transfer the firearm within twenty‑four hours after service of the order.

3. Grant relief that is necessary for the protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons and that is proper under the circumstances.

H. The court may not grant mutual sexual assault protective orders. If opposing parties separately file verified petitions for an order, the courts after consultation between the judges involved may consolidate the petitions of the opposing parties for hearing. This does not prohibit a court from issuing cross protective orders.

I. After granting a sexual assault protective order, the court shall provide the order to a law enforcement agency or a constable as set forth in subsection J of this section for service or to an entity that is authorized in subsection K of this section to serve process. The agency or entity serving the order shall provide confirmation of service to the plaintiff as soon as practicable. If service of an order cannot be completed within fifteen days after the agency or entity receives the order, the agency or entity that is attempting service shall notify the plaintiff and continue to attempt service. This notification may be completed by a victim notification system, if available.

J. If the sexual assault protective order is provided to a law enforcement agency or a constable, service of a sexual assault protective order is as follows:

1. For each protective order that is issued by a municipal court, if the defendant can be served within that city or town, the order shall be served by the law enforcement agency of that city or town. If the order can be served in another city or town, the order shall be served by the law enforcement agency of that city or town. If the order cannot be served within a city or town, the order shall be served by the sheriff or constable of the county in which the defendant can be served.

2. For each protective order that is issued by a justice of the peace, the order shall be served by the sheriff or constable of the county in which the defendant can be served or by a municipal law enforcement agency.

3. For each protective order that is issued by a superior court judge or commissioner, the order shall by served by the sheriff or constable of the county where the defendant can be served.

K. In addition to persons authorized to serve process pursuant to rule 4(d) of the Arizona rules of civil procedure, a peace officer or a correctional officer as defined in section 41-1661 who is acting in the officer's official capacity may serve a sexual assault protective order that is issued pursuant to this section. Service of the order has priority over other service of process that does not involve an immediate threat to the safety of a person.

L. At any time during the period during which the order is in effect, a party who is under a sexual assault protective order or who is restrained from contacting the other party is entitled to one hearing on written request. A fee may not be charged for requesting a hearing. A hearing that is requested by a party who is under a sexual assault protective order or who is restrained from contacting the other party shall be held within ten days from the date requested unless the court finds good cause to continue the hearing. An ex parte order that is issued under this section shall state on its face that the defendant is entitled to a hearing on written request and shall include the name and address of the judicial office where the request may be filed. After the hearing, the court may modify, quash or continue the order.

M. The sexual ASSAULT protection order shall include the following statement:

Warning

This is an official court order. If you disobey this order, you will be subject to arrest and prosecution for the crime of interfering with judicial proceedings and any other crime you may have committed in disobeying this order.

N. A sexual assault protective order that is not served on the defendant within one year after the date that the order is issued expires. An order is effective on the defendant on service of a copy of the order and petition. An order expires one year after service on the defendant. A modified order is effective on service and expires one year after service of the initial order and petition.

O. A supplemental information form that is used by the court or a law enforcement agency solely for the purposes of service of process on the defendant and that contains information provided by the plaintiff is confidential.

P. Each affidavit, declaration, acceptance or return of service shall be filed as soon as practicable but not later than seventy‑two hours, excluding weekends and holidays, with the clerk of the issuing court or as otherwise required by court rule. This filing shall be completed in person, electronically or by fax. Within twenty‑four hours after the affidavit, declaration, acceptance or return of service has been filed, excluding weekends and holidays, the court from which the order or any modified order was issued shall register the order with the national crime information center. The supreme court shall maintain a central repository for sexual assault protective orders so that the existence and validity of the orders can be easily verified. The effectiveness of an order does not depend on its registration, and for enforcement purposes pursuant to section 13‑2810, a copy of an order of the court, whether or not registered, is presumed to be a valid existing order of the court for a period of one year from the date of service of the order on the defendant.

Q. A peace officer, with or without a warrant, may arrest a person if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated section 13‑2810 by disobeying or resisting an order that is issued in any jurisdiction in this state pursuant to this section, whether or not such violation occurred in the presence of the officer. Criminal violations of an order issued pursuant to this section shall be referred to an appropriate law enforcement agency. The provisions for release under section 13‑3883, subsection A, paragraph 4 and section 13‑3903 do not apply to an arrest made pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this section, any court in this state has jurisdiction to enforce a valid sexual assault protective order that is issued in this state and that has been violated in any jurisdiction in this state.

R. A person who is arrested pursuant to subsection Q of this section may be released from custody in accordance with the Arizona rules of criminal procedure or any other applicable statute. An order for release, with or without an appearance bond, shall include pretrial release conditions that are necessary to provide for the protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons and may provide for any other additional conditions that the court deems appropriate, including participation in any counseling programs available to the defendant. The agency with custody of the defendant shall make reasonable efforts to contact the victim and other specifically designated persons in the sexual assault protective order, if known to the custodial agency, who requested notification immediately on release of the arrested person from custody.

S. The remedies provided in this section for enforcement of the orders of the court are in addition to any other civil and criminal remedies available. The municipal court and the justice court may hear and decide all matters arising pursuant to this section. After a hearing with notice to the affected party, the court may enter an order requiring any party to pay the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney fees, if any. An order that is entered by a justice court or municipal court after a hearing pursuant to this section may be appealed to the superior court as provided in title 22, chapter 2, article 4, section 22‑425, subsection B and the superior court rules of civil appellate procedure without regard to an amount in controversy. A fee may not be charged to either party for filing an appeal.

T. A peace officer who makes an arrest pursuant to this section is not civilly or criminally liable for the arrest if the officer acts on probable cause and without malice.

U. A valid protection order that is related to unlawful sexual contact and that is issued by a court in another state, a court of a United States territory or a tribal court shall be accorded full faith and credit and shall be enforced as if it were issued in this state for as long as the order is effective in the issuing jurisdiction. For the purposes of this subsection:

1. A protection order includes any injunction or other order that is issued for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, contact or communication with or physical proximity to another person. A protection order includes temporary and final orders other than support or child custody orders that are issued by civil and criminal courts if the order is obtained by the filing of an independent action or is a pendente lite order in another proceeding. The civil order shall be issued in response to a complaint, petition or motion that was filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection.

2. A protection order is valid if the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and the matter under the laws of the issuing state, a United States territory or an Indian tribe and the person against whom the order was issued had reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard. If the order is issued ex parte, the notice and opportunity to be heard shall be provided within the time required by the laws of the issuing state, a United States territory or an Indian tribe and within a reasonable time after the order was issued.

3. A mutual protection order that is issued against both the party who filed a petition or a complaint or otherwise filed a written pleading for protection against abuse and the person against whom the filing was made is not entitled to full faith and credit if either:

(a) The person against whom an initial order was sought has not filed a cross or counter petition or other written pleading seeking a protection order.

(b) The issuing court failed to make specific findings supporting the entitlement of both parties to be granted a protection order.

4. A peace officer may presume the validity of and rely on a copy of a protection order that is issued by another state, a United States territory or an Indian tribe if the order was given to the officer by any source. A peace officer may also rely on the statement of any person who is protected by the order that the order remains in effect. A peace officer who acts in good faith reliance on a protection order is not civilly or criminally liable for enforcing the protection order pursuant to this section.

V. For the purposes of this section, "victim notification system" means an automated system that may provide plaintiffs and crime victims with an automated notification regarding the person's case. END_STATUTE