Amended in Senate August 22, 2014

Amended in Senate August 20, 2014

Amended in Senate July 1, 2014

Amended in Senate June 11, 2014

Amended in Assembly May 23, 2014

Amended in Assembly March 28, 2014

Amended in Assembly March 19, 2014

Amended in Assembly March 11, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2034


Introduced by Assembly Member Gatto

February 20, 2014


An act tobegin delete amend Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Codeend deletebegin insert add Section 2361 to, and to add and repeal Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 3820) to Part 8 of Division 4 of the Probate Codeend insert, relating to elder and dependent adults.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2034, as amended, Gatto. Elder and dependent adults.

begin insert

Existing law requires the conservator of a person to be responsible for the care, custody, control, and education of the conservatee, except when the court, in its discretion, limits the powers and duties of the conservator, as specified.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would require the conservator of an elder or dependent adult to inform the relatives of the conservatee whenever the conservatee dies or is admitted to a medical facility for acute care for a period of 3 days or more and would require the conservator, in the event of the death of the conservatee, to inform the relatives of any funeral arrangements and the location of the conservatee’s final resting place.

end insert

Existing law authorizes a conservator or a trustee of an elder or dependent adult, an attorney-in-fact of an elder or dependent adult, a person appointed as a guardian ad litem for an elder or dependent adult, or another person legally authorized to seek a protective order on behalf of an elder or dependent adult who has suffered physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering, or the deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering.

begin insert

This bill would allow a relative of the first degree to bring a petition for a visitation order to enjoin a respondent from keeping an elder or dependent adult in isolation from contact with the petitioner.

end insert
begin delete

This bill would, for purposes of a petition alleging abuse in the form of isolation, as defined, allow the petition to be brought on behalf of an abused elder or dependent adult by a relative of the first degree of the elder or dependent adult who seeks visitation with the isolated elder or dependent adult.

end delete

begin deleteThe bill would require the court to determine whether the elder or dependent adult on whose behalf the petition was filed has retained or intends to retain an attorney, and if the elder or dependent adult has not retained an attorney and does not plan to retain one, allow the court to appoint an attorney. end deletebegin insertThe bill would allow the court to appoint counsel to represent the proposed visitee if the proposed visitee has not retained an attorney or is unable to retain an attorney and requests the appointment of counsel. end insertIf an attorney is appointed, the bill would require the court to fix a reasonable sum for thebegin delete reasonable costs and feesend deletebegin insert compensation and expensesend insert of thebegin delete elder or dependent adult’s attorneyend deletebegin insert proposed visitee’s counselend insert. The bill would allow the court to order thebegin delete respondent, if the petition is granted, or the relative of the first degree, if the petition is denied, to pay the reasonable fees and costs of the elder or dependent adult’s attorney. The bill would require the court to determine the ability of the person to pay these fees and costsend deletebegin insert nonprevailing party to pay the fees and costs of the proposed visitee’s counselend insert and would require the county to pay to the extent the person is unable to pay. By requiring the county to pay these costs, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

begin insert

The bill would make these provisions operative on January 1, 2016, and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2019.

end insert

Because a violation of a court order issued pursuant to the above provisions would be punishable as contempt, a misdemeanor, this bill would create a new crime and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P3    1begin insert

begin insertSECTION 1.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 2361 is added to the end insertbegin insertProbate Codeend insertbegin insert, end insert2immediately following Section 2360begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
3

begin insert2361.end insert  

A conservator of an elder or dependent adult shall inform
4the relatives of the conservatee, as listed in subdivision (b) of
5Section 1821, whenever the conservatee dies or is admitted to a
6medical facility for acute care for a period of three days or more.
7In the case of death, the conservator shall inform the relatives of
8any funeral arrangements and the location of the conservatee’s
9final resting place.

end insert
10begin insert

begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

end insert

begin insertChapter 7 (commencing with Section 3820) is added
11to Part 8 of Division 4 of the end insert
begin insertProbate Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert

12 

13Chapter  begin insert7.end insert Visitation of Elder or Dependent Adult
14without Conservator
15

 

16

begin insert3820.end insert  

(a) A petition may be brought for a visitation order
17seeking to enjoin a respondent from keeping a proposed visitee in
18isolation from contact with the petitioner.

19(b) For the purposes of this section:

P4    1(1) “Elder” has the same meaning as defined in Section
215610.27 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

3(2) “Dependent adult” has the same meaning as defined in
4Section 15610.23 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

5(3) “Isolation” has the same meaning as defined in Section
615610.43 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

7(4) “Petitioner” means a person who is an adult relative in the
8first degree of the proposed visitee.

9(5) “Proposed visitee” means the elder or dependent adult who
10is under the care or control of the respondent.

11(6) “Respondent” means the person who is alleged to be
12isolating the proposed visitee and, if the petition is granted, the
13restrained person.

14(7) “Visitation” means any in-person meeting between a
15proposed visitee and the petitioner.

16(8) “Visitation order” means an order enjoining a party from
17keeping the proposed visitee in isolation from contact with the
18petitioner that is issued by a court after notice and hearing.

19(c) (1) If the proposed visitee resides in a long-term care
20facility, as defined in Section 9701 of the Welfare and Institutions
21Code, or a residential facility, as defined in Section 1502 of the
22Health and Safety Code, then an order shall not be issued under
23this section, and Section 483.10 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal
24Regulations shall apply.

25(2) If the elder or dependent adult is a patient of a health facility
26as defined in subdivision (a), (b), or (f) of Section 1250 of the
27Health and Safety Code, then an order shall not be issued under
28this section, and Sections 482.13 and 485.635 of Title 42 of the
29Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1261 of the Health and Safety
30Code, and subdivision (b) of Section 70707 of Title 22 of the
31California Code of Regulations shall apply.

32(d) A petition may not be filed pursuant to subdivision (a) if the
33 proposed visitee is a conservatee or subject to a conservatorship.

34(e) The petition may be filed in the superior court of either of
35the following counties:

36(1) The county in which the proposed visitee resides.

37(2) The county in which the proposed visitee is temporarily
38living.

39(f) The court may require the proposed visitee to appear at the
40hearing.

P5    1(g) (1) If the proposed visitee has not retained an attorney or
2is unable to retain legal counsel and requests the appointment of
3counsel to assist in the particular matter, the court may, at or
4before the time of the hearing, appoint counsel to represent the
5proposed visitee at the hearing on the petition if the court
6 determines that the appointment would be helpful to the resolution
7of the matter or is necessary to protect the interests of the proposed
8visitee.

9(2) If the proposed visitee is provided legal counsel pursuant
10to subparagraph (1), all of the following shall apply:

11(A) The nonprevailing party may be required to pay the fees
12and costs of the proposed visitee’s legal counsel.

13(B) The court shall, upon conclusion of the matter, fix a
14reasonable sum for compensation and expenses of counsel and
15shall make a determination of the nonprevailing party’s ability to
16pay all or a portion of that sum. The sum may, in the discretion of
17the court, include compensation for services rendered, and
18expenses incurred, before the date of the order appointing counsel.

19(C) If the court determines that the nonprevailing party has the
20ability to pay all or a portion of the sum, the court shall order the
21nonprevailing party to pay in any installments and in any manner
22the court determines to be reasonable and compatible with the
23nonprevailing party’s financial ability.

24(D) If the court determines that the nonprevailing party lacks
25the ability to pay all or a portion of the sum determined under
26subparagraph (B), the county shall pay the sum to the private
27counsel to the extent the court determines the person is unable to
28pay.

29(h) The court shall schedule an evidentiary hearing within 60
30days from the date that the petition is filed. The court may grant
31a continuance of the hearing for good cause.

32(i) The respondent and the proposed visitee shall each be
33personally served with a copy of the petition for visitation order
34and notice of the hearing at least 21 days before the hearing date.

35(j) The notice of the hearing shall notify the proposed visitee
36and the respondent that following the hearing the court may make
37orders not to exceed five years from the hearing date. The notice
38of the hearing shall also notify the proposed visitee whether the
39court requires that the proposed visitee appear at the hearing, and
P6    1how to request that counsel be appointed if the proposed visitee
2is unable to retain counsel.

3(k) Respondent may file and serve a response that explains or
4denies the alleged isolation at least 10 days before the hearing
5date.

6(l) The court shall issue an order only after notice and a hearing
7under this section, and the court shall not issue an ex parte order
8under this section.

9(m) An order may be issued under this section to restrain the
10respondent for the purpose of preventing a recurrence of isolation
11if the petitioner has shown by a preponderance of the evidence, to
12the satisfaction of the court, the following: (1) the respondent’s
13past act or acts of isolation of the proposed visitee prevented
14contact with the petitioner, and (2) that the proposed visitee desires
15contact with the petitioner. The order may specify the frequency,
16time, place, location, and any other terms or conditions of
17visitation.

18(n) In deciding whether to issue or modify a visitation order
19under this section, the court shall consider any prior protective
20orders issued against the petitioner to protect the proposed visitee.

21(o) In deciding whether to issue or modify a visitation order
22under this section, the court may consider whether visitation by
23the petitioner should be limited to situations in which a third
24person, specified by the court, is present, or whether visitation
25shall be suspended or denied. The petitioner, proposed visitee, or
26respondent may submit to the court the name of a person who may
27be suitable to be present during visitation.

28(p) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after notice
29and a hearing under this section may have a duration of not more
30than five years, subject to termination or modification by further
31order of the court either on written stipulation filed with the court
32or on the motion of a party. These orders may be renewed, upon
33the request of a party, either for five years or permanently, without
34a showing of any further isolation since the issuance of the original
35order, subject to termination or modification by further order of
36the court either on written stipulation filed with the court or on
37the motion of a party. The request for renewal may be brought at
38any time within the three months before the expiration of the
39orders. The failure to state the expiration date on the face of the
P7    1form creates an order with a duration of three years from the date
2of issuance.

3(q) Nothing in this section shall preclude any party, including
4the proposed visitee, from representation by private counsel or
5from appearing on the party’s own behalf.

6(r) The court may, in its discretion, award the prevailing party
7in any action brought under this section court costs and attorney’s
8fees, if any. In no event shall the proposed visitee be required to
9pay the court costs or attorney’s fees of either the prevailing or
10nonprevailing party.

11(s) The court shall not issue an order unless the proposed visitee
12has expressed a desire for visitation. The court may appoint a
13court investigator to determine whether the proposed visitee has
14expressed a desire for visitation.

15(t) A proposed visitee who appears in an action on a petition
16for visitation order shall not be subject to any fees listed in Title
178 (commencing with Section 68070) of the Government Code.

18(u) The Judicial Council shall, on or before January 1, 2016,
19adopt implementing rules and forms, as necessary.

20(v) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

21(w) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
222019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
23that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that
24date.

end insert
begin delete
25

SECTION 1.  

Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions
26Code
is amended to read:

27

15657.03.  

(a) (1) An elder or dependent adult who has suffered
28abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 may seek protective orders
29as provided in this section.

30(2) (A) A petition may be brought on behalf of an abused elder
31or dependent adult by a conservator or a trustee of the elder or
32dependent adult, an attorney-in-fact of an elder or dependent adult
33who acts within the authority of the power of attorney, a person
34appointed as a guardian ad litem for the elder or dependent adult,
35or other person legally authorized to seek such relief.

36(B) If the petition alleges abuse of an elder or dependent adult
37in the form of isolation, as defined in Section 15610.43, the term
38“other person legally authorized to seek such relief” as used in
39paragraph (2) includes a relative within the first degree of the
P8    1abused elder or dependent adult who seeks visitation with the
2isolated elder or dependent adult.

3(b) For the purposes of this section:

4(1) “Conservator” means the legally appointed conservator of
5the person or estate of the petitioner, or both.

6(2) “Petitioner” means the elder or dependent adult to be
7protected by the protective orders and, if the court grants the
8 petition, the protected person.

9(3) “Protective order” means an order that includes any of the
10following restraining orders, whether issued ex parte, after notice
11and hearing, or in a judgment:

12(A) An order enjoining a party from abusing, intimidating,
13molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
14assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not
15limited to, making annoying telephone calls as described in Section
16653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting,
17either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, or coming within
18a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of, the petitioner,
19and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of
20other named family or household members or a conservator, if
21any, of the petitioner.

22(B) An order excluding a party from the petitioner’s residence
23or dwelling, except that this order shall not be issued if legal or
24equitable title to, or lease of, the residence or dwelling is in the
25sole name of the party to be excluded, or is in the name of the party
26to be excluded and any other party besides the petitioner.

27(C) An order enjoining a party from specified behavior that the
28court determines is necessary to effectuate orders described in
29subparagraph (A) or (B).

30(4) “Respondent” means the person against whom the protective
31orders are sought and, if the petition is granted, the restrained
32person.

33(c) An order may be issued under this section, with or without
34notice, to restrain any person for the purpose of preventing a
35recurrence of abuse, if a declaration shows, to the satisfaction of
36the court, reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse of the
37petitioning elder or dependent adult.

38(d) Upon filing a petition for protective orders under this section,
39the petitioner may obtain a temporary restraining order in
40accordance with Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except
P9    1to the extent this section provides a rule that is inconsistent. The
2temporary restraining order may include any of the protective
3orders described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). However, the
4court may issue an ex parte order excluding a party from the
5petitioner’s residence or dwelling only on a showing of all of the
6following:

7(1) Facts sufficient for the court to ascertain that the party who
8will stay in the dwelling has a right under color of law to possession
9of the premises.

10(2) That the party to be excluded has assaulted or threatens to
11 assault the petitioner, other named family or household member
12of the petitioner, or a conservator of the petitioner.

13(3) That physical or emotional harm would otherwise result to
14the petitioner, other named family or household member of the
15petitioner, or a conservator of the petitioner.

16(e) A request for the issuance of a temporary restraining order
17without notice under this section shall be granted or denied on the
18same day that the petition is submitted to the court, unless the
19petition is filed too late in the day to permit effective review, in
20which case the order shall be granted or denied on the next day of
21judicial business in sufficient time for the order to be filed that day
22with the clerk of the court.

23(f) Within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25
24days, from the date that a request for a temporary restraining order
25is granted or denied, a hearing shall be held on the petition. If no
26request for temporary orders is made, the hearing shall be held
27within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days,
28from the date that the petition is filed.

29(g) The respondent may file a response that explains or denies
30the alleged abuse.

31(h) (1) Upon the filing of a petition by a relative of the first
32degree pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the court shall
33determine whether the elder or dependent adult on whose behalf
34the petition was filed has retained or intends to retain an attorney.
35If the elder or dependent adult has not retained an attorney and
36does not plan to retain one, the court may appoint an attorney to
37represent the elder or dependent adult.

38(2) If the court appoints an attorney to represent the elder or
39dependent adult, the court may order the respondent, if the petition
40is granted, or the relative of the first degree, if the petition is denied,
P10   1to pay the reasonable fees and costs of the elder or dependent
2adult’s attorney.

3(3) If the court appoints an attorney to represent the elder or
4dependent adult, the court shall, upon conclusion of the matter,
5fix a reasonable sum for the reasonable costs and fees of the elder
6or dependent adult’s attorney and shall make a determination of
7the paying person’s ability to pay all or a portion of that sum. The
8sum may, in the discretion of the court, include compensation for
9services rendered, and expenses incurred, before the date of the
10order appointing counsel.

11(4) If the court determines that the person ordered to pay the
12reasonable fees and costs of the elder or dependent adult’s attorney
13has the ability to pay all or a portion of the sum, the court shall
14order that person to pay in any installments and in any manner the
15court determines to be reasonable and compatible with the person’s
16financial ability.

17(5) If the court determines that the person who is ordered to pay
18the reasonable fees and costs of the elder or dependent adult’s
19attorney in the amount determined pursuant to paragraph (3) is
20unable to pay, the county shall pay the sum to the counsel to the
21extent the court determines the person is unable to pay.

22(6) If the elder or dependent adult fails to participate in the
23proceeding in any meaningful way, the court shall appoint a
24guardian ad litem for the elder or dependent adult to determine the
25ability of the elder or dependent adult to participate.

26(i) The court may issue, upon notice and a hearing, any of the
27orders set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). The court may
28issue, after notice and hearing, an order excluding a person from
29a residence or dwelling if the court finds that physical or emotional
30harm would otherwise result to the petitioner, other named family
31or household member of the petitioner, or conservator of the
32petitioner.

33(j) (1) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after notice
34and a hearing under this section may have a duration of not more
35than five years, subject to termination or modification by further
36order of the court either on written stipulation filed with the court
37or on the motion of a party. These orders may be renewed upon
38the request of a party, either for five years or permanently, without
39a showing of any further abuse since the issuance of the original
40order, subject to termination or modification by further order of
P11   1the court either on written stipulation filed with the court or on the
2motion of a party. The request for renewal may be brought at any
3time within the three months before the expiration of the order.

4(2) The failure to state the expiration date on the face of the
5form creates an order with a duration of three years from the date
6of issuance.

7(3) If an action is filed for the purpose of terminating or
8modifying a protective order prior to the expiration date specified
9in the order by a party other than the protected party, the party
10who is protected by the order shall be given notice, pursuant to
11subdivision (b) of Section 1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
12of the proceeding by personal service or, if the protected party has
13 satisfied the requirements of Chapter 3.1 (commencing with
14Section 6205) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code,
15by service on the Secretary of State. If the party who is protected
16by the order cannot be notified prior to the hearing for modification
17or termination of the protective order, the court shall deny the
18motion to modify or terminate the order without prejudice or
19continue the hearing until the party who is protected can be
20properly noticed and may, upon a showing of good cause, specify
21another method for service of process that is reasonably designed
22to afford actual notice to the protected party. The protected party
23may waive his or her right to notice if he or she is physically
24present in court and does not challenge the sufficiency of the notice.

25(k) In a proceeding under this section, a support person may
26accompany a party in court and, if the party is not represented by
27an attorney, may sit with the party at the table that is generally
28reserved for the party and the party’s attorney. The support person
29is present to provide moral and emotional support for a person
30who alleges he or she is a victim of abuse. The support person is
31not present as a legal adviser and may not provide legal advice.
32The support person may assist the person who alleges he or she is
33a victim of abuse in feeling more confident that he or she will not
34be injured or threatened by the other party during the proceedings
35if the person who alleges he or she is a victim of abuse and the
36other party are required to be present in close proximity. This
37subdivision does not preclude the court from exercising its
38discretion to remove the support person from the courtroom if the
39court believes the support person is prompting, swaying, or
40influencing the party assisted by the support person.

P12   1(l) Upon the filing of a petition for protective orders under this
2section, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of
3the petition, notice of the hearing or order to show cause, temporary
4restraining order, if any, and any declarations in support of the
5petition. Service shall be made at least five days before the hearing.
6The court may, on motion of the petitioner or on its own motion,
7shorten the time for service on the respondent. If a petition is filed
8by a relative of the first degree, the isolated elder or dependent
9adult shall be notified of the hearing and any declarations in support
10of the petition.

11(m) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the
12respondent that if he or she does not attend the hearing, the court
13may make orders against him or her that could last up to five years.
14 If a petition is filed by a relative of the first degree, the isolated
15elder or dependent adult shall be notified that if he or she does not
16attend the hearing, the court may issue a protective order that
17facilitates visitation with him or her that could last up to five years.

18(n) (1) The court may, upon the filing of a declaration by the
19petitioner that the respondent could not be served within the time
20required by statute, reissue an order previously issued and dissolved
21by the court for failure to serve the respondent. The reissued order
22shall remain in effect until the date set for the hearing.

23(2) The reissued order shall state on its face the date of
24expiration of the order.

25(o) (1) If a respondent, named in an order issued under this
26section after a hearing, has not been served personally with the
27order but has received actual notice of the existence and substance
28of the order through personal appearance in court to hear the terms
29of the order from the court, no additional proof of service is
30required for enforcement of the order.

31(2) If the respondent named in a temporary restraining order is
32personally served with the order and notice of hearing with respect
33to a restraining order or protective order based on the temporary
34restraining order, but the respondent does not appear at the hearing,
35either personally or by an attorney, and the terms and conditions
36of the restraining order or protective order issued at the hearing
37are identical to the temporary restraining order, except for the
38duration of the order, then the restraining order or protective order
39issued at the hearing may be served on the respondent by first-class
P13   1mail sent to the respondent at the most current address for the
2respondent that is available to the court.

3(3) The Judicial Council form for temporary orders issued
4pursuant to this subdivision shall contain a statement in
5substantially the following form:


7“If you have been personally served with a temporary restraining
8order and notice of hearing, but you do not appear at the hearing
9either in person or by a lawyer, and a restraining order that is the
10same as this temporary restraining order except for the expiration
11date is issued at the hearing, a copy of the order will be served on
12you by mail at the following address: ____.

13If that address is not correct or you wish to verify that the
14temporary restraining order was converted to a restraining order
15at the hearing without substantive change and to find out the
16duration of that order, contact the clerk of the court.”
17


18(p) (1) Information on any protective order relating to elder or
19dependent adult abuse issued by a court pursuant to this section
20shall be transmitted to the Department of Justice in accordance
21with either paragraph (2) or (3).

22(2) The court shall order the petitioner or the attorney for the
23petitioner to deliver a copy of an order issued under this section,
24or a reissuance, extension, modification, or termination of the
25order, and any subsequent proof of service, by the close of the
26business day on which the order, reissuance, extension,
27modification, or termination was made, to each law enforcement
28agency having jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner, and
29to any additional law enforcement agencies within the court’s
30discretion as are requested by the petitioner.

31(3) Alternatively, the court or its designee shall transmit, within
32one business day, to law enforcement personnel all information
33required under subdivision (b) of Section 6380 of the Family Code
34regarding any order issued under this section, or a reissuance,
35extension, modification, or termination of the order, and any
36subsequent proof of service, by either one of the following
37methods:

38(A) Transmitting a physical copy of the order or proof of service
39to a local law enforcement agency authorized by the Department
P14   1of Justice to enter orders into the California Law Enforcement
2Telecommunications System (CLETS).

3(B) With the approval of the Department of Justice, entering
4the order or proof of service into CLETS directly.

5(4) Each appropriate law enforcement agency shall make
6available information as to the existence and current status of these
7orders to law enforcement officers responding to the scene of
8reported abuse.

9(5) An order issued under this section shall, on request of the
10petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the
11respondent has been taken into custody, by any law enforcement
12officer who is present at the scene of reported abuse involving the
13parties to the proceeding. The petitioner shall provide the officer
14with an endorsed copy of the order and a proof of service, which
15the officer shall complete and send to the issuing court.

16(6) Upon receiving information at the scene of an incident of
17abuse that a protective order has been issued under this section,
18or that a person who has been taken into custody is the respondent
19to that order, if the protected person cannot produce an endorsed
20copy of the order, a law enforcement officer shall immediately
21attempt to verify the existence of the order.

22(7) If the law enforcement officer determines that a protective
23order has been issued, but not served, the officer shall immediately
24notify the respondent of the terms of the order and where a written
25copy of the order can be obtained, and the officer shall at that time
26also enforce the order. The law enforcement officer’s verbal notice
27of the terms of the order shall constitute service of the order and
28is sufficient notice for the purposes of this section and for the
29purposes of Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.

30(q) Nothing in this section shall preclude either party from
31representation by private counsel or from appearing on the party’s
32own behalf.

33(r) There is no filing fee for a petition, response, or paper seeking
34the reissuance, modification, or enforcement of a protective order
35filed in a proceeding brought pursuant to this section.

36(s) Pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section
376103.2 of the Government Code, a petitioner shall not be required
38to pay a fee for law enforcement to serve an order issued under
39this section.

P15   1(t) Except as provided in subdivision (h), the prevailing party
2in any action brought under this section may be awarded court
3costs and attorney’s fees, if any.

4(u) (1) A person subject to a protective order under this section
5shall not own, possess, purchase, receive, or attempt to receive a
6firearm or ammunition while the protective order is in effect.

7(2) The court shall order a person subject to a protective order
8issued under this section to relinquish any firearms he or she owns
9or possesses pursuant to Section 527.9 of the Code of Civil
10Procedure.

11(3) Every person who owns, possesses, purchases, or receives,
12or attempts to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while
13subject to a protective order issued under this section is punishable
14pursuant to Section 29825 of the Penal Code.

15(4) This subdivision shall not apply in a case in which the
16protective order issued under this section was made solely on the
17basis of financial abuse unaccompanied by force, threat,
18harassment, intimidation, or any other form of abuse.

19(v) Any willful disobedience of any temporary restraining order
20or restraining order after hearing granted under this section is
21punishable pursuant to Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.

22(w) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding
23governed by Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) of Part
244 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, by Chapter 3 (commencing with
25Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
26or by Division 10 (commencing with Section 6200) of the Family
27Code. Nothing in this section shall preclude a petitioner’s right to
28use other existing civil remedies.

29(x) When a petition is filed by a relative of the first degree
30pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), both of the following
31shall apply:

32(1) The court shall not issue a protective order without the
33knowledge and agreement of the elder or dependent person on
34whose behalf the petition is filed.

35(2) If the isolated elder or dependent adult is so incapacitated
36that he or she cannot express an opinion concerning visitation with
37the petitioner, a petition for temporary conservatorship or
38guardianship may be initiated in accordance with Section 2250 of
39the Probate Code.

P16   1(y) The Judicial Council shall develop forms, instructions, and
2rules relating to matters governed by this section. The petition and
3response forms shall be simple and concise, and their use by parties
4in actions brought pursuant to this section shall be mandatory.

end delete
5

begin deleteSEC. 2.end delete
6begin insertSEC. 3.end insert  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
7Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain
8costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district
9because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction,
10eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime
11or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
12Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
13meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
14Constitution.

15However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that
16this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement
17to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
18pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
194 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



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