HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1729

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 586-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Imminent" means the state or condition of being reasonably likely to occur at any moment or near at hand, rather than distant or remote."

     SECTION 2.  Section 586-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  A petition for relief shall be in writing upon forms provided by the court and shall [allege,]:

     (1)  Allege, under penalty of perjury, that:  [a]

         (A)  A past act or acts of abuse may have occurred; [threats]

         (B)  Threats of abuse make it probable that acts of abuse may be imminent; or [extreme]

         (C)  Extreme psychological abuse or malicious property damage is imminent; [and be]

     (2)  Be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath or a statement made under penalty of perjury stating the specific facts and circumstances from which relief is sought[.]; and

     (3)  Disclose current and pending litigation in family court, offenses relating to domestic abuse, or offenses against the person involving the petitioner; provided that a petitioner who fails to comply with this paragraph shall be liable for any reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the respondent in connection with the petition."

     SECTION 3.  Section 604-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read:

     ""Imminent" means the state or condition of being reasonably likely to occur at any moment or near at hand, rather than distant or remote.

     "Served" means actual personal service, service by certified mail, or proof that a respondent under this section was present at the hearing at which a court orally issued an injunction pursuant to this section."

     2.  By amending subsection (d) to read:

     "(d)  A petition for relief from harassment shall [be]:

     (1)  Be in writing [and shall allege];

     (2)  Allege that a past act or acts of harassment may have occurred or that threats of harassment make it probable that acts of harassment may be imminent; [and shall be]

     (3)  Be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath or statement made under penalty of perjury stating the specific facts and circumstances for which relief is sought[.]; and

     (4)  Disclose current and pending litigation in district court, offenses relating to domestic abuse, or offenses against the person involving the petitioner; provided that a petitioner who fails to comply with this paragraph shall be liable for any reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the respondent in connection with the petition."

      3.  By amending subsections (g) and (h) to read:

     "(g)  A temporary restraining order that is granted under this section shall remain in effect at the discretion of the court for a period not to exceed ninety days from the date the order is granted.  A hearing on the petition to enjoin harassment shall be held within fifteen days after the temporary restraining order is granted.  If service of the temporary restraining order has not been effected before the date of the hearing on the petition to enjoin, the court may set a new date for the hearing; provided that the new date shall not exceed ninety days from the date the temporary restraining order was granted.

     The parties named in the petition may file or give oral responses explaining, excusing, justifying, or denying the alleged act or acts of harassment.  The court shall receive all evidence that is relevant at the hearing and may make independent inquiry.

     If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that harassment as defined in paragraph (1) of that definition exists, it may enjoin for no more than three years further harassment of the petitioner, or that harassment as defined in paragraph (2) of that definition exists, it shall enjoin for no more than three years further harassment of the petitioner; provided that this paragraph shall not prohibit the court from issuing other injunctions against the named parties even if the time to which the injunction applies exceeds a total of three years.

     Any order issued under this section shall be served upon the respondent.  [For the purposes of this section, "served" shall mean actual personal service, service by certified mail, or proof that the respondent was present at the hearing at which the court orally issued the injunction.]  Where service of a restraining order or injunction has been made or where the respondent is deemed to have received notice of a restraining order or injunction order, any knowing or intentional violation of the restraining order or injunction order shall subject the respondent to the provisions in subsection (i).

     Any order issued shall be transmitted to the chief of police of the county in which the order is issued by way of regular mail, facsimile transmission, or other similar means of transmission.

     (h)  [The] Subject to subsection (d)(4), the court may grant the prevailing party in an action brought under this section costs and fees, including attorney's fees."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

Temporary Restraining Orders; Disclosure of Current and Pending Litigation

 

Description:

Requires petitioners for temporary restraining orders to disclose current and pending litigation in family court or district court, offenses relating to domestic abuse, or offenses against the person involving the petitioner.  Defines "imminent" with regard to the type of harm for which a temporary restraining order may be issued.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (HB1729 HD1)

 

 

 

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