No. CS/CS/HB 277
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions; Reclassifying penalties for committing a domestic violence offense if a person has a prior conviction for domestic violence; providing that sentencing and incentive gain-time eligibility determinations are made without regard to a penalty enhancement; establishing an electronic monitoring pilot program in a specified county; requiring the sheriff, in consultation with certain persons, to design and implement the pilot program; providing requirements for the pilot program; requiring the Department of Corrections to complete an evaluation and provide specified reports to the Legislature; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating violence and sexual violence into a statewide verification system, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDRepeat domestic violence offenders face higher charges. A prior conviction now bumps the penalty up one level, from misdemeanor to felony or higher.
Courts must order electronic monitoring if they find a clear threat of harm to the victim. This applies to both misdemeanor and felony domestic violence cases in pilot counties.
Victims of domestic violence can now receive up to $2,500 for immediate relocation assistance. The lifetime maximum for these payments increases to $5,000.
Law enforcement must enter dating and sexual violence injunctions into a statewide verification system. This allows agencies to check for active protective orders.
AIIncreases the severity of domestic violence charges for individuals with prior convictions, escalating misdemeanors to felonies and felonies to life felonies.
AIRequires courts to impose electronic monitoring on probationers who pose a clear and convincing threat of violence to their victims.
AIMandates the inclusion of dating and sexual violence injunctions in the statewide verification system accessible to criminal justice agencies.
AIRaises the maximum one-time payment for victims needing to escape domestic violence from $1,500 to $2,500.