HCS HB 583 -- ORDERS OF PROTECTION

SPONSOR:  Franz (Johnson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Family Services by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute requires the circuit clerk to notify by phone an
individual who is petitioning for an ex parte order of protection
when the order has been served or if no more attempts to serve
are planned if the petitioner has opted to register a phone
number with the victim notification system established in Section
650.310, RSMo.  All attempts to serve orders of protection must
be tracked by the agency responsible for serving the order.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that national data shows that when a
woman seeks an order of protection, she actually becomes more
vulnerable, and the bill is a way to increase the safety for
those women who have chosen to proceed with a petition for an ex
parte order of protection.  The petitioner is given the option
for notification which is an act of empowerment for the women who
need to protect themselves.   Because the notification system
will be automated, the responsibility of law enforcement is
reduced.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Johnson; Marcia Roth,
Mary Byron Foundation; Jason Dodson, Lasting Solutions; Missouri
Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and Department of Public
Safety.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am