Amended in Senate May 18, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 13, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 494

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Chávez, begin insert Cristina Garcia, end insert and McCarty)

(Coauthor: Senator Bates)

February 23, 2015

An act to amend Section 527.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and to amend Sections 213.5 and 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to civil procedure.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 494, as amended, Maienschein. Restraining orders: protection of animals.

Existing law authorizes the court to issue a restraining order or a protective order to enjoin a party from specified behavior, such as, among other things, enjoining a person from molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, destroying the personal property of, or contacting another person, upon the showing of good cause. Existing law authorizes the court to issue an ex parte order under specified circumstances related to the protection of a ward of the court.

This bill would additionally authorize the court, on a showing of good cause, to include in restraining orders or protective orders an order granting the petitioner or applicant exclusive care, possession, or control of an animal that is held by the petitioner or a person protected by a restraining order or that resides in the same residence or household that is held by the petitioner or a person protected by a restraining order or that resides in the same residence or household and an order for the respondent or restrained person to stay away begin delete from the animal end delete begin insert from, end insert and refrain from taking or begin delete harming the end delete begin insert harming, that end insert animal, as specified. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions, including the provision relating to the protection of a ward of the court.

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 527.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure is
amended to read:

527.6.  

(a) (1) A person who has suffered harassment as
defined in subdivision (b) may seek a temporary restraining order
and an injunction prohibiting harassment as provided in this
section.

(2) A minor, under 12 years of age, accompanied by a duly
appointed and acting guardian ad litem, shall be permitted to appear
in court without counsel for the limited purpose of requesting or
opposing a request for a temporary restraining order or injunction,
or both, under this section as provided in Section 374.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Course of conduct” is a pattern of conduct composed of a
series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a
continuity of purpose, including following or stalking an individual,
making harassing telephone calls to an individual, or sending
harassing correspondence to an individual by any means, including,
but not limited to, the use of public or private mails, interoffice
mail, facsimile, or computer email. Constitutionally protected
activity is not included within the meaning of “course of conduct.”

(2) “Credible threat of violence” is a knowing and willful
statement or course of conduct that would place a reasonable person
in fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate
family, and that serves no legitimate purpose.

(3) “Harassment” is unlawful violence, a credible threat of
violence, or a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at
a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the
person, and that serves no legitimate purpose. The course of
conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer
substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial
emotional distress to the petitioner.

(4) “Petitioner” means the person to be protected by the
temporary restraining order and injunction and, if the court grants
the petition, the protected person.

(5) “Respondent” means the person against whom the temporary
restraining order and injunction are sought and, if the petition is
granted, the restrained person.

(6) “Temporary restraining order” and “injunction” mean orders
that include any of the following restraining orders, whether issued
ex parte or after notice and hearing:

(A) An order enjoining a party from harassing, intimidating,
molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, battering, abusing, telephoning, including, but not
limited to, making annoying telephone calls, as described in Section
653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting,
either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, or coming within
a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of, the petitioner.
On a showing of good cause, in an order issued pursuant to this
subparagraph begin insert in connection with an animal owned, possessed,
leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, or residing in the residence
or household of the petitioner, end insert the court may do either or both of
the following:

(i) Grant the petitioner exclusive care, possession, or control of
begin delete an end delete begin insert the end insert animal begin delete owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the
petitioner, or residing in the residence or household of the
petitioner end delete .

(ii) Order the respondent to stay away from the animal and
refrain from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing,
molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise
disposing of the animal.

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

(7) “Unlawful violence” is any assault or battery, or stalking as
prohibited in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code, but shall not include
lawful acts of self-defense or defense of others.

(c) In the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause,
a temporary restraining order or injunction issued under this section
may include other named family or household members.

(d) Upon filing a petition for an injunction under this section,
the petitioner may obtain a temporary restraining order in
accordance with Section 527, except to the extent this section
provides a rule that is inconsistent. The temporary restraining order
may include any of the restraining orders described in paragraph
(6) of subdivision (b). A temporary restraining order may be issued
with or without notice, based on a declaration that, to the
satisfaction of the court, shows reasonable proof of harassment of
the petitioner by the respondent, and that great or irreparable harm
would result to the petitioner.

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

(f) A temporary restraining order issued under this section shall
remain in effect, at the court’s discretion, for a period not to exceed
21 days, or, if the court extends the time for hearing under
subdivision (g), not to exceed 25 days, unless otherwise modified
or terminated by the court.

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

(h) The respondent may file a response that explains, excuses,
justifies, or denies the alleged harassment or may file a
cross-petition under this section.

(i) At the hearing, the judge shall receive any testimony that is
relevant, and may make an independent inquiry. If the judge finds
by clear and convincing evidence that unlawful harassment exists,
an injunction shall issue prohibiting the harassment.

(j) (1) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after notice
and hearing under this section may have a duration of not more
than five years, subject to termination or modification by further
order of the court either on written stipulation filed with the court
or on the motion of a party. The order may be renewed, upon the
request of a party, for a duration of not more than five additional
years, without a showing of any further harassment since the
issuance of the original order, subject to termination or
modification by further order of the court either on written
stipulation filed with the court or on the motion of a party. A
request for renewal may be brought at any time within the three
months before the expiration of the order.

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

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

(k) This section does not preclude either party from
representation by private counsel or from appearing on the party’s
own behalf.

(l) In a proceeding under this section if there are allegations of
unlawful violence or credible threats of violence, a support person
may accompany a party in court and, if the party is not represented
by an attorney, may sit with the party at the table that is generally
reserved for the party and the party’s attorney. The support person
is present to provide moral and emotional support for a person
who alleges he or she is a victim of violence. The support person
is not present as a legal adviser and may not provide legal advice.
The support person may assist the person who alleges he or she is
a victim of violence in feeling more confident that he or she will
not be injured or threatened by the other party during the
proceedings if the person who alleges he or she is a victim of
violence and the other party are required to be present in close
proximity. This subdivision does not preclude the court from
exercising its discretion to remove the support person from the
courtroom if the court believes the support person is prompting,
swaying, or influencing the party assisted by the support person.

(m) Upon the filing of a petition for an injunction under this
section, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of
the petition, temporary restraining order, if any, and notice of
hearing of the petition. Service shall be made at least five days
before the hearing. The court may for good cause, on motion of
the petitioner or on its own motion, shorten the time for service
on the respondent.

(n) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the
respondent that if he or she does not attend the hearing, the court
may make orders against him or her that could last up to three
years.

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

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

(p) (1) If a respondent, named in a restraining order issued after
a hearing, has not been served personally with the order but has
received actual notice of the existence and substance of the order
through personal appearance in court to hear the terms of the order
from the court, no additional proof of service is required for
enforcement of the order.

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

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

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

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

(q) (1) Information on any temporary restraining order or
injunction relating to civil harassment issued by a court pursuant
to this section shall be transmitted to the Department of Justice in
accordance with either paragraph (2) or (3).

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

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

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

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

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

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

(6) Upon receiving information at the scene of an incident of
harassment that a protective order has been issued under this
section, or that a person who has been taken into custody is the
subject of an order, if the protected person cannot produce a
certified copy of the order, a law enforcement officer shall
immediately attempt to verify the existence of the order.

(7) If the law enforcement officer determines that a protective
order has been issued, but not served, the officer shall immediately
notify the respondent of the terms of the order and shall at that
time also enforce the order. Verbal notice of the terms of the order
shall constitute service of the order and is sufficient notice for the
purposes of this section and for the purposes of Section 29825 of
the Penal Code.

(r) The prevailing party in any action brought under this section
may be awarded court costs and attorney’s fees, if any.

(s) Any willful disobedience of any temporary restraining order
or injunction granted under this section is punishable pursuant to
Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.

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

(2) The court shall order a person subject to a protective order
issued under this section to relinquish any firearms he or she owns
or possesses pursuant to Section 527.9.

(3) Every person who owns, possesses, purchases, or receives,
or attempts to purchase or receive, a firearm or ammunition while
the protective order is in effect is punishable pursuant to Section
29825 of the Penal Code.

(u) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding
covered by Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) of Part 4
of Division 3 of the Civil Code or by Division 10 (commencing
with Section 6200) of the Family Code. This section does not
preclude a petitioner from using other existing civil remedies.

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

(2) A temporary restraining order or injunction relating to civil
harassment issued by a court pursuant to this section shall be issued
on forms adopted by the Judicial Council of California and that
have been approved by the Department of Justice pursuant to
subdivision (i) of Section 6380 of the Family Code. However, the
fact that an order issued by a court pursuant to this section was not
issued on forms adopted by the Judicial Council and approved by
the Department of Justice shall not, in and of itself, make the order
unenforceable.

(w) There is no filing fee for a petition that alleges that a person
has inflicted or threatened violence against the petitioner, or stalked
the petitioner, or acted or spoken in any other manner that has
placed the petitioner in reasonable fear of violence, and that seeks
a protective or restraining order or injunction restraining stalking
or future violence or threats of violence, in any action brought
pursuant to this section. A fee shall not be paid for a subpoena
filed in connection with a petition alleging these acts. A fee shall
not be paid for filing a response to a petition alleging these acts.

(x) (1) Subject to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section
6103.2 of the Government Code, there shall not be a fee for the
service of process by a sheriff or marshal of a protective order,
restraining order, or injunction to be issued, if either of the
following conditions applies:

(A) The protective order, restraining order, or injunction issued
pursuant to this section is based upon stalking, as prohibited by
Section 646.9 of the Penal Code.

(B) The protective order, restraining order, or injunction issued
pursuant to this section is based upon unlawful violence or a
credible threat of violence.

(2) The Judicial Council shall prepare and develop forms for
persons who wish to avail themselves of the services described in
this subdivision.

(y) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014.

SEC. 2.  

Section 213.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

213.5.  

(a) After a petition has been filed pursuant to Section
311 to declare a child a dependent child of the juvenile court, and
until the time that the petition is dismissed or dependency is
terminated, upon application in the manner provided by Section
527 of the Code of Civil Procedure or in the manner provided by
Section 6300 of the Family Code, if related to domestic violence,
the juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction to issue ex parte orders
(1) enjoining any person from molesting, attacking, striking,
stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing,
telephoning, including, but not limited to, making annoying
telephone calls as described in Section 653m of the Penal Code,
destroying the personal property, contacting, either directly or
indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified distance
of, or disturbing the peace of the child or any other child in the
household; and (2) excluding any person from the dwelling of the
person who has care, custody, and control of the child. A court
may also issue an ex parte order enjoining any person from
molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not
limited to, making annoying telephone calls as described in Section
653m of the Penal Code, destroying the personal property,
contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise,
coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of
any parent, legal guardian, or current caretaker of the child,
regardless of whether the child resides with that parent, legal
guardian, or current caretaker, upon application in the manner
provided by Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure or, if
related to domestic violence, in the manner provided by Section
6300 of the Family Code. A court may also issue an ex parte order
enjoining any person from molesting, attacking, striking, stalking,
threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning,
including, but not limited to, making annoying telephone calls as
described in Section 653m of the Penal Code, destroying the
personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail
or otherwise, coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing
the peace of the child’s current or former social worker or court
appointed special advocate, upon application in the manner
provided by Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure. On a
showing of good cause, in an ex parte order issued pursuant to this
subdivision begin insert in connection with an animal owned, possessed, leased,
kept, or held by a person protected by the restraining order, or
residing in the residence or household of a person protected by
the restraining order, end insert the court may do either or both of the
following:

(1) Grant the applicant exclusive care, possession, or control of
begin delete an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by a person
protected by the restraining order, or residing in the residence or
household of a person protected by the restraining order. end delete begin insert the
animal. end insert

(2) Order the restrained person to stay away from the animal
and refrain from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing,
molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise
disposing of the animal.

(b) After a petition has been filed pursuant to Section 601 or
602 to declare a child a ward of the juvenile court, and until the
time that the petition is dismissed or wardship is terminated, upon
application in the manner provided by Section 527 of the Code of
Civil Procedure or, if related to domestic violence, in the manner
provided by Section 6300 of the Family Code, the juvenile court
may issue ex parte orders (1) enjoining any person from molesting,
attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting,
battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to,
making annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of
the Penal Code, destroying the personal property, contacting, either
directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a
specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the child or any
other child in the household; (2) excluding any person from the
dwelling of the person who has care, custody, and control of the
child; or (3) enjoining the child from contacting, threatening,
stalking, or disturbing the peace of any person the court finds to
be at risk from the conduct of the child, or with whom association
would be detrimental to the child. A court may also issue an ex
parte order enjoining any person from molesting, attacking,
striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering,
harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to, making
annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of the Penal
Code, destroying the personal property, contacting, either directly
or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified
distance of, or disturbing the peace of any parent, legal guardian,
or current caretaker of the child, regardless of whether the child
resides with that parent, legal guardian, or current caretaker, upon
application in the manner provided by Section 527 of the Code of
Civil Procedure or, if related to domestic violence, in the manner
provided by Section 6300 of the Family Code. A court may also
issue an ex parte order enjoining any person from molesting,
attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting,
battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to,
making annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of
the Penal Code, destroying the personal property, contacting, either
directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a
specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the child’s current
or former probation officer or court appointed special advocate,
upon application in the manner provided by Section 527 of the
Code of Civil Procedure. On a showing of good cause, in an ex
parte order issued pursuant to this subdivision begin insert in connection with
an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by a person
protected by the restraining order, or residing in the residence or
household of a person protected by the restraining order, end insert the court
may do either or both of the following:

(1) Grant the applicant exclusive care, possession, or control of
begin delete an end delete begin insert the end insert animal begin delete owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by a person
protected by the restraining order, or residing in the residence or
household of a person protected by the restraining order end delete .

(2) Order the respondent to stay away from the animal and
refrain from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing,
molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise
disposing of the animal.

(c) If a temporary restraining order is granted without notice,
the matter shall be made returnable on an order requiring cause to
be shown why the order should not be granted, on the earliest day
that the business of the court will permit, but not later than 21 days
or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days from the date the
temporary restraining order is granted. The court may, on the
motion of the person seeking the restraining order, or on its own
motion, shorten the time for service of the order to show cause on
the person to be restrained. The court may, upon its own motion
or the filing of a declaration by the person seeking the restraining
order, find that the person to be restrained could not be served
within the time required by law and reissue an order previously
issued and dissolved by the court for failure to serve the person to
be restrained. The reissued order shall remain in effect until the
date set for the hearing. The reissued order shall state on its face
the date of expiration of the order. Any hearing pursuant to this
section may be held simultaneously with any regularly scheduled
hearings held in proceedings to declare a child a dependent child
or ward of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 601, or 602,
or subsequent hearings regarding the dependent child or ward.

(d) (1) The juvenile court may issue, upon notice and a hearing,
any of the orders set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c). Any
restraining order granted pursuant to this subdivision shall remain
in effect, in the discretion of the court, no more than three years,
unless otherwise terminated by the court, extended by mutual
consent of all parties to the restraining order, or extended by further
order of the court on the motion of any party to the restraining
order.

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

(e) (1) The juvenile court may issue an order made pursuant to
subdivision (a), (b), or (d) excluding a person from a residence or
dwelling. This order may be issued for the time and on the
conditions that the court determines, regardless of which party
holds legal or equitable title or is the lessee of the residence or
dwelling.

(2) The court may issue an order under paragraph (1) only on
a showing of all of the following:

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

(B) That the party to be excluded has assaulted or threatens to
assault the other party or any other person under the care, custody,
and control of the other party, or any minor child of the parties or
of the other party.

(C) That physical or emotional harm would otherwise result to
the other party, to any person under the care, custody, and control
of the other party, or to any minor child of the parties or of the
other party.

(f) Any order issued pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d)
shall state on its face the date of expiration of the order.

(g) All data with respect to a juvenile court protective order, or
extension, modification, or termination thereof, granted pursuant
to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), shall be transmitted by the court
or its designee, within one business day, to law enforcement
personnel by either one of the following methods:

(1) Transmitting a physical copy of the order to a local law
enforcement agency authorized by the Department of Justice to
enter orders into the California Law Enforcement
Telecommunications System (CLETS).

(2) With the approval of the Department of Justice, entering the
order into CLETS directly.

(h) Any willful and knowing violation of any order granted
pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall be a misdemeanor
punishable under Section 273.65 of the Penal Code.

(i) A juvenile court restraining order related to domestic violence
issued by a court pursuant to this section shall be issued on forms
adopted by the Judicial Council of California and that have been
approved by the Department of Justice pursuant to subdivision (i)
of Section 6380 of the Family Code. However, the fact that an
order issued by a court pursuant to this section was not issued on
forms adopted by the Judicial Council and approved by the
Department of Justice shall not, in and of itself, make the order
unenforceable.

(j) (1) Prior to a hearing on the issuance or denial of an order
under this part, a search shall be conducted as described in
subdivision (a) of Section 6306 of the Family Code.

(2) Prior to deciding whether to issue an order under this part,
the court shall consider the following information obtained pursuant
to a search conducted under paragraph (1): any conviction for a
violent felony specified in Section 667.5 of the Penal Code or a
serious felony specified in Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code; any
misdemeanor conviction involving domestic violence, weapons,
or other violence; any outstanding warrant; parole or probation
status; any prior restraining order; and any violation of a prior
restraining order.

(3) (A) If the results of the search conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) indicate that an outstanding warrant exists against
the subject of the search, the court shall order the clerk of the court
to immediately notify, by the most effective means available,
appropriate law enforcement officials of any information obtained
through the search that the court determines is appropriate. The
law enforcement officials notified shall take all actions necessary
to execute any outstanding warrants or any other actions, as
appropriate and as soon as practicable.

(B) If the results of the search conducted pursuant to paragraph
(1) indicate that the subject of the search is currently on parole or
probation, the court shall order the clerk of the court to immediately
notify, by the most effective means available, the appropriate parole
or probation officer of any information obtained through the search
that the court determines is appropriate. The parole or probation
officer notified shall take all actions necessary to revoke any parole
or probation, or any other actions, with respect to the subject
person, as appropriate and as soon as practicable.

(k) Upon making any order for custody or visitation pursuant
to this section, the court shall follow the procedures specified in
subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 6323 of the Family Code.

SEC. 3.  

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

15657.03.  

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

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

(b) For the purposes of this section:

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

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

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

(A) An order enjoining a party from abusing, intimidating,
molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not
limited to, making annoying telephone calls as described in Section
653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting,
either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, or coming within
a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of, the petitioner,
and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of
other named family or household members or a conservator, if
any, of the petitioner. On a showing of good cause, in an order
issued pursuant to this subparagraph begin insert end insert begin insert in connection with an animal
owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, or
residing in the residence or household of the petitioner, end insert the court
may do either or both of the following:

(i) Grant the petitioner exclusive care, possession, or control of
begin delete an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner,
or residing in the residence or household of the petitioner. end delete begin insert the
animal. end insert

(ii) Order the respondent to stay away from the animal and
refrain from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing,
molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise
disposing of the animal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(k) Upon the filing of a petition for protective orders under this
section, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of
the petition, notice of the hearing or order to show cause, temporary
restraining order, if any, and any declarations in support of the
petition. Service shall be made at least five days before the hearing.
The court may, on motion of the petitioner or on its own motion,
shorten the time for service on the respondent.

(l) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the
respondent that if he or she does not attend the hearing, the court
may make orders against him or her that could last up to five years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(r) Pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 6103.2
of the Government Code, a petitioner shall not be required to pay
a fee for law enforcement to serve an order issued under this
section.

(s) The prevailing party in any action brought under this section
may be awarded court costs and attorney’s fees, if any.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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