HF 1625

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; extending the duration of orders for protection and
restraining orders after multiple violations or continued threats; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 518B.01, subdivisions 6, 6a, 11, 18; 609.748,
subdivisions 3, 5, 8.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 518B.01, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Relief by the court.

(a) Upon notice and hearing, the court may provide
relief as follows:

(1) restrain the abusing party from committing acts of domestic abuse;

(2) exclude the abusing party from the dwelling which the parties share or from the
residence of the petitioner;

(3) exclude the abusing party from a reasonable area surrounding the dwelling or
residence, which area shall be described specifically in the order;

(4) award temporary custody or establish temporary parenting time with regard to
minor children of the parties on a basis which gives primary consideration to the safety of
the victim and the children. In addition to the primary safety considerations, the court
may consider particular best interest factors that are found to be relevant to the temporary
custody and parenting time award. Findings under section 257.025, 518.17, or 518.175
are not required with respect to the particular best interest factors not considered by the
court. If the court finds that the safety of the victim or the children will be jeopardized by
unsupervised or unrestricted parenting time, the court shall condition or restrict parenting
time as to time, place, duration, or supervision, or deny parenting time entirely, as needed
to guard the safety of the victim and the children. The court's decision on custody and
parenting time shall in no way delay the issuance of an order for protection granting other
relief provided for in this section. The court must not enter a parenting plan under section
518.1705 as part of an action for an order for protection;

(5) on the same basis as is provided in chapter 518 or 518A, establish temporary
support for minor children or a spouse, and order the withholding of support from the
income of the person obligated to pay the support according to chapter 518A;

(6) provide upon request of the petitioner counseling or other social services for the
parties, if married, or if there are minor children;

(7) order the abusing party to participate in treatment or counseling services,
including requiring the abusing party to successfully complete a domestic abuse
counseling program or educational program under section 518B.02;

(8) award temporary use and possession of property and restrain one or both parties
from transferring, encumbering, concealing, or disposing of property except in the usual
course of business or for the necessities of life, and to account to the court for all such
transfers, encumbrances, dispositions, and expenditures made after the order is served or
communicated to the party restrained in open court;

(9) exclude the abusing party from the place of employment of the petitioner, or
otherwise limit access to the petitioner by the abusing party at the petitioner's place of
employment;

new text begin (10) order the abusing party to have no contact with the petitioner whether in
person, by telephone, mail, or electronic mail or messaging, through a third party, or
by any other means;
new text end

deleted text begin (10) deleted text end new text begin (11) new text end order the abusing party to pay restitution to the petitioner;

deleted text begin (11) deleted text end new text begin (12) new text end order the continuance of all currently available insurance coverage without
change in coverage or beneficiary designation; and

deleted text begin (12) deleted text end new text begin (13) new text end order, in its discretion, other relief as it deems necessary for the protection
of a family or household member, including orders or directives to the sheriff or other law
enforcement or corrections officer as provided by this section.

(b) Any relief granted by the order for protection shall be for a deleted text begin fixed deleted text end period not to
exceed deleted text begin one year deleted text end new text begin two years new text end , except when the court determines a longer deleted text begin fixed deleted text end period is
appropriate. When a referee presides at the hearing on the petition, the order granting
relief becomes effective upon the referee's signature.

(c) An order granting the relief authorized in paragraph (a), clause (1), may not be
vacated or modified in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, except
that the court may hear a motion for modification of an order for protection concurrently
with a proceeding for dissolution of marriage upon notice of motion and motion. The
notice required by court rule shall not be waived. If the proceedings are consolidated
and the motion to modify is granted, a separate order for modification of an order for
protection shall be issued.

(d) An order granting the relief authorized in paragraph (a), clause (2) or (3), is not
voided by the admittance of the abusing party into the dwelling from which the abusing
party is excluded.

(e) If a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation is pending between
the parties, the court shall provide a copy of the order for protection to the court with
jurisdiction over the dissolution or separation proceeding for inclusion in its file.

(f) An order for restitution issued under this subdivision is enforceable as civil
judgment.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 518B.01, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Subsequent orders and extensions.

new text begin (a) new text end Upon application, notice to
all parties, and hearing, the court may extend the relief granted in an existing order for
protection or, if a petitioner's order for protection is no longer in effect when an application
for subsequent relief is made, grant a new order. The court may extend the terms of an
existing order or, if an order is no longer in effect, grant a new order upon a showing that:

(1) the respondent has violated a prior or existing order for protection;

(2) the petitioner is reasonably in fear of physical harm from the respondent;

(3) the respondent has engaged in acts of harassment or stalking within the meaning
of section 609.749, subdivision 2; or

(4) the respondent is incarcerated and about to be released, or has recently been
released from incarceration.

A petitioner does not need to show that physical harm is imminent to obtain an
extension or a subsequent order under this subdivision.

new text begin (b) Relief granted by the order for protection may be for a period of 50 years, if
the court finds:
new text end

new text begin (1) the respondent has violated a prior or existing order for protection on two or
more occasions; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the petitioner has had two or more orders for protection in effect against the
same respondent.
new text end

new text begin The court may provide relief under this paragraph as follows: (1) restrain the abusing
party from committing acts of domestic abuse; or (2) prohibit the abusing party from
having any contact with the petitioner whether in person, by telephone, mail or electronic
mail or messaging, through electronic devices, through a third party, or by any other means.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 518B.01, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Modification of order.

new text begin (a) new text end Upon application, notice to all parties, and
hearing, the court may modify the terms of an existing order for protection.

new text begin (b) If the court orders relief under subdivision 6a, paragraph (b), the respondent
named in the order for protection may request to have the order vacated or modified if
the order has been in effect for at least five years and the respondent has not violated the
order during that time. Application for relief under this subdivision must be made in the
county in which the order for protection was issued. Upon receipt of the request, the court
shall set a hearing date. Personal service must be made upon the petitioner named in the
order for protection not less than 30 days before the date of the hearing. At the hearing,
the respondent named in the order for protection shall have the burden of proving by a
preponderance of the evidence that there has been a material change in circumstances
and that the reasons upon which the court relied in granting or extending the order for
protection no longer apply and are unlikely to occur. If the court finds that the respondent
named in the order for protection has met the burden of proof, the court may vacate or
modify the order. If the court finds that the respondent named in the order for protection
has not met the burden of proof, the court shall deny the request and no request may be
made to vacate or modify the order for protection until five years have elapsed from the
date of denial. Any order vacated or modified under this paragraph must be personally
served on the petitioner named in the order for protection.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 518B.01, subdivision 18, is amended to read:

Subd. 18.

Notices.

new text begin (a) new text end Each order for protection granted under this chapter must
contain a conspicuous notice to the respondent or person to be restrained that:

(1) violation of an order for protection is either (i) a misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment for up to 90 days or a fine of up to $1,000, or both, (ii) a gross misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to $3,000, or both, or (iii) a
felony punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both;

(2) the respondent is forbidden to enter or stay at the petitioner's residence, even
if invited to do so by the petitioner or any other person; in no event is the order for
protection voided;

(3) a peace officer must arrest without warrant and take into custody a person
whom the peace officer has probable cause to believe has violated an order for protection
restraining the person or excluding the person from a residence; and

(4) pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, United States Code,
title 18, section 2265, the order is enforceable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
tribal lands, and United States territories, that violation of the order may also subject
the respondent to federal charges and punishment under United States Code, title 18,
sections 2261 and 2262, and that if a final order is entered against the respondent after the
hearing, the respondent may be prohibited from possessing, transporting, or accepting a
firearm under the 1994 amendment to the Gun Control Act, United States Code, title 18,
section 922(g)(8).

new text begin (b) If the court grants relief under subdivision 6a, paragraph (b), the order for
protection must also contain a conspicuous notice to the respondent or person to be
restrained that the respondent must wait five years to seek a modification of the order.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 609.748, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Contents of petition; hearing; notice.

(a) A petition for relief must
allege facts sufficient to show the following:

(1) the name of the alleged harassment victim;

(2) the name of the respondent; and

(3) that the respondent has engaged in harassment.

new text begin A petition for relief must state whether the petitioner has ever had a restraining order in
effect against the respondent. new text end The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made
under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances from which relief is sought. The
court shall provide simplified forms and clerical assistance to help with the writing and
filing of a petition under this section and shall advise the petitioner of the right to sue in
forma pauperis under section 563.01. The court shall advise the petitioner of the right to
request a hearing. If the petitioner does not request a hearing, the court shall advise the
petitioner that the respondent may request a hearing and that notice of the hearing date
and time will be provided to the petitioner by mail at least five days before the hearing.
Upon receipt of the petition and a request for a hearing by the petitioner, the court shall
order a hearing. Personal service must be made upon the respondent not less than five
days before the hearing. If personal service cannot be completed in time to give the
respondent the minimum notice required under this paragraph, the court may set a new
hearing date. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a hearing on a
matter that has no merit.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the order for a hearing and a temporary order
issued under subdivision 4 may be served on the respondent by means of a one-week
published notice under section 645.11, if:

(1) the petitioner files an affidavit with the court stating that an attempt at personal
service made by a sheriff was unsuccessful because the respondent is avoiding service by
concealment or otherwise; and

(2) a copy of the petition and order for hearing and any temporary restraining order
has been mailed to the respondent at the respondent's residence or place of business, if the
respondent is an organization, or the respondent's residence or place of business is not
known to the petitioner.

(c) Regardless of the method of service, if the respondent is a juvenile, whenever
possible, the court also shall have notice of the pendency of the case and of the time and
place of the hearing served by mail at the last known address upon any parent or guardian
of the juvenile respondent who is not the petitioner.

(d) A request for a hearing under this subdivision must be made within 45 days of
the filing or receipt of the petition.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 609.748, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Restraining order.

(a) The court may grant a restraining order ordering
the respondent to cease or avoid the harassment of another person or to have no contact
with that person if all of the following occur:

(1) the petitioner has filed a petition under subdivision 3;

(2) the sheriff has served respondent with a copy of the temporary restraining order
obtained under subdivision 4, and with notice of the right to request a hearing, or service
has been made by publication under subdivision 3, paragraph (b); and

(3) the court finds at the hearing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that
the respondent has engaged in harassment.

A restraining order may be issued only against the respondent named in the petition;
except that if the respondent is an organization, the order may be issued against and apply
to all of the members of the organization. new text begin If the court finds that the petitioner has had two
or more previous restraining orders in effect against the same respondent or the respondent
has violated a prior or existing restraining order on two or more occasions, relief granted
by the restraining order may be for a period of 50 years. In all other cases, new text end relief granted
by the restraining order must be for a fixed period of not more than two years. When a
referee presides at the hearing on the petition, the restraining order becomes effective
upon the referee's signature.

(b) An order issued under this subdivision must be personally served upon the
respondent.

new text begin (c) If the court orders relief for a period of 50 years under paragraph (a), the
respondent named in the restraining order may request to have the restraining order vacated
or modified if the order has been in effect for at least five years and the respondent has not
violated the order. Application for relief under this paragraph must be made in the county
in which the restraining order was issued. Upon receipt of the request, the court shall set a
hearing date. Personal service must be made upon the petitioner named in the restraining
order not less than 30 days before the date of the hearing. At the hearing, the respondent
named in the restraining order shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the
evidence that there has been a material change in circumstances and that the reasons upon
which the court relied in granting the restraining order no longer apply and are unlikely to
occur. If the court finds that the respondent named in the restraining order has met the
burden of proof, the court may vacate or modify the order. If the court finds that the
respondent named in the restraining order has not met the burden of proof, the court shall
deny the request and no request may be made to vacate or modify the restraining order
until five years have elapsed from the date of denial. Any order vacated or modified under
this paragraph must be personally served on the petitioner named in the restraining order.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 609.748, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Notice.

new text begin (a) new text end An order granted under this section must contain a conspicuous
notice to the respondent:

(1) of the specific conduct that will constitute a violation of the order;

(2) that violation of an order is either (i) a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment
for up to 90 days or a fine of up to $1,000, or both, (ii) a gross misdemeanor punishable
by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to $3,000, or both, or (iii) a felony
punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both; and

(3) that a peace officer must arrest without warrant and take into custody a person if
the peace officer has probable cause to believe the person has violated a restraining order.

new text begin (b) If the court grants relief for a period of 50 years under subdivision 5, the order
must also contain a conspicuous notice to the respondent that the respondent must wait
five years to seek a modification of the order.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end