House Engrossed Senate Bill   probation; prisoners; protective orders

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021

CHAPTER 273

SENATE BILL 1412

 

AN ACT

 

amending sections 12-1809, 13-901 and 31-411.01, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to protective orders.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 12-1809, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE12-1809. Injunction against harassment; petition; venue; fees; notices; enforcement; definition

A. A person may file a verified petition with a magistrate, justice of the peace or superior court judge for an injunction prohibiting harassment. If the person is a minor, the parent, legal guardian or person who has legal custody of the minor shall file the petition unless the court determines otherwise.  The petition shall name the parent, guardian or custodian as the plaintiff, and the minor is a specifically designated person for the purposes of subsection F of this section. If a person is either temporarily or permanently unable to request an injunction, a third party may request an injunction on behalf of the plaintiff. After the request, the judicial officer shall determine if the third party is an appropriate requesting party for the plaintiff.  Notwithstanding the location of the plaintiff or defendant, any court in this state may issue or enforce an injunction against harassment.

B. An injunction against harassment shall not be granted:

1. Unless the party who requests the injunction files a written verified petition for injunction.

2. Against a person who is less than twelve years of age unless the injunction is granted by the juvenile division of the superior court.

3. Against more than one defendant.

C. The petition shall state all of the following:

1. The name of the plaintiff. The plaintiff's address and contact information shall be disclosed to the court for purposes of service and notification.  The address and contact information shall not be listed on the petition. Whether or not the court issues an injunction against harassment, the plaintiff's address and contact information shall be maintained in a separate document or automated database and is not subject to release or disclosure by the court or any form of public access except as ordered by the court.

2. The name and address, if known, of the defendant. 

3. A specific statement showing events and dates of the acts constituting the alleged harassment.

4. The name of the court in which there was or is any prior or pending proceeding or order concerning the conduct that is sought to be restrained.

5. The relief requested.

D. A fee shall not be charged for filing a petition under this section.  Fees for service of process may be deferred or waived under any rule or law applicable to civil actions, except that fees for service of process shall not be charged if the petition arises out of a dating relationship or sexual violence as defined in section 23-371.  The court shall advise a plaintiff that the plaintiff may be eligible for the deferral or waiver of these fees at the time the plaintiff files a petition.  The court shall not require the plaintiff to perform community restitution as a condition of the waiver or deferral of fees for service of process. A law enforcement agency or constable shall not require the advance payment of fees for service of process of injunctions against harassment.  If the court does not waive the fees, the serving agency may assess the actual fees against the plaintiff. On request of the plaintiff, an injunction against harassment that is issued by a municipal court may be served by the police agency for that city if the defendant can be served within the city. If the defendant cannot be served within the city, the police agency in the city in which the defendant can be served may serve the injunction. On request of the plaintiff, each injunction against harassment that is issued by a justice of the peace shall be served by the constable for that jurisdiction if the defendant can be served within the jurisdiction. If the defendant cannot be served within that jurisdiction, the constable in the jurisdiction in which the defendant can be served shall serve the injunction. On request of the plaintiff, an injunction against harassment that is issued by a superior court judge or commissioner may be served by the sheriff of the county. If the defendant cannot be served within that jurisdiction, the sheriff in the jurisdiction in which the defendant can be served may serve the order. The court shall provide, without charge, forms for purposes of this section for assisting parties without counsel.

E. The court shall review the petition, any other pleadings on file and any evidence offered by the plaintiff, including any evidence of harassment by electronic contact or communication, to determine whether the injunction requested should issue without a further hearing. Rules 65(a)(1) and 65(e) of the Arizona rules of civil procedure do not apply to injunctions that are requested pursuant to this section. If the court finds reasonable evidence of harassment of the plaintiff by the defendant during the year preceding the filing of the petition or that good cause exists to believe that great or irreparable harm would result to the plaintiff if the injunction is not granted before the defendant or the defendant's attorney can be heard in opposition and the court finds specific facts attesting to the plaintiff's efforts to give notice to the defendant or reasons supporting the plaintiff's claim that notice should not be given, the court shall issue an injunction as provided in subsection F of this section. If the court denies the requested relief, it may schedule a further hearing within ten days with reasonable notice to the defendant. For the purposes of determining the one year period, any time that the defendant has been incarcerated or out of this state shall not be counted.

F. If the court issues an injunction, the court may do any of the following:

1. Enjoin the defendant from committing a violation of one or more acts of harassment.

2. Restrain the defendant from contacting the plaintiff or other specifically designated persons and from coming near the residence, place of employment or school of the plaintiff or other specifically designated locations or persons.

3. Grant relief necessary for the protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons proper under the circumstances.

G. The court shall not grant a mutual injunction against harassment.  If opposing parties separately file verified petitions for an injunction against harassment, the courts after consultation between the judicial officers involved may consolidate the petitions of the opposing parties for hearing. This does not prohibit a court from issuing cross injunctions against harassment.

H. At any time during the period during which the injunction is in effect, the defendant is entitled to one hearing on written request.  No fee may be charged for requesting a hearing.  A hearing that is requested by a defendant shall be held within ten days from the date requested unless the court finds compelling reasons to continue the hearing. The hearing shall be held at the earliest possible time. An ex parte injunction that is issued under this section shall state on its face that the defendant is entitled to a hearing on written request and shall include the name and address of the judicial office where the request may be filed. After the hearing, the court may modify, quash or continue the injunction.

I. The injunction shall include the following statement:

Warning

This is an official court order. If you disobey this order, you may be arrested and prosecuted for the crime of interfering with judicial proceedings and any other crime you may have committed in disobeying this order.

J. An injunction that is not served on the defendant within one year after the date that the injunction is issued expires.  The injunction is effective on the defendant on service of a copy of the injunction and petition and expires one year after service on the defendant.  A modified injunction is effective upon on service and expires one year after service of the initial injunction and petition.

K. A supplemental information form that is used solely for the purposes of service of process on the defendant and that contains information provided by the plaintiff is confidential.

L. Each affidavit, declaration, acceptance or return of service shall be filed as soon as practicable but not later than seventy-two hours, excluding weekends and holidays, with the clerk of the issuing court or as otherwise required by court rule. This filing shall be completed in person, electronically or by fax. Within twenty-four hours after the affidavit, declaration, acceptance or return of service has been filed, excluding weekends and holidays, the court from which the injunction or any modified injunction was issued shall register the injunction with the national crime information center. The supreme court shall maintain a central repository for injunctions so that the existence and validity of the injunctions can be easily verified.  The effectiveness of an injunction does not depend on its registration, and for enforcement purposes pursuant to section 13-2810, a copy of an injunction, whether or not registered, is presumed to be a valid existing order of the court for a period of one year from the date of service of the injunction on the defendant.

M. A peace officer, with or without a warrant, may arrest a person if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated section 13-2810 by disobeying or resisting an injunction that is issued pursuant to this section, whether or not the violation occurred in the presence of the officer. The provisions for release under section 13-3903 do not apply to an arrest made pursuant to this subsection. A person who is arrested pursuant to this subsection may be released from custody in accordance with the Arizona rules of criminal procedure or any other applicable statute. An order for release, with or without an appearance bond, shall include pretrial release conditions that are necessary to provide for the protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons and may provide for additional conditions that the court deems appropriate, including participation in any counseling programs available to the defendant.

N. If a peace officer responds to a call alleging that harassment has been or may be committed, the officer shall inform in writing any alleged or potential victim of the procedures and resources available for the protection of the victim including:

1. An injunction pursuant to this section.

2. The emergency telephone number for the local police agency.

3. Telephone numbers for emergency services in the local community.

O. The remedies provided in this section for enforcement of the orders of the court are in addition to any other civil and criminal remedies available.  The municipal court and the justice court may hear and decide all matters arising pursuant to this section.  After a hearing with notice to the affected party, the court may enter an order requiring any party to pay the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney fees, if any.  An order that is entered by a justice court or municipal court after a hearing pursuant to this section may be appealed to the superior court as provided in title 22, chapter 2, article 4, section 22-425, subsection B and the superior court rules of civil appellate procedure without regard to an amount in controversy. No fee may be charged to either party for filing an appeal.

P. A peace officer who makes an arrest pursuant to this section is not civilly or criminally liable for the arrest if the officer acts on probable cause and without malice. A peace officer is not civilly liable for noncompliance with subsection N of this section.

Q. This section does not apply to preliminary injunctions issued pursuant to an action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation or for protective orders against domestic violence.

R. In addition to the persons who are authorized to serve process pursuant to rule 4(d), Arizona rules of civil procedure, a peace officer or a correctional officer as defined in section 41-1661 who is acting in the officer's official capacity may serve an injunction against harassment that is issued pursuant to this section.

S. For the purposes of this section, "harassment":

1. Means either any of the following:

(a) A series of acts over any period of time that is directed at a specific person and that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed or harassed and the conduct in fact seriously alarms, annoys or harasses the person and serves no legitimate purpose.

(b) One or more acts of sexual violence as defined in section 23-371.

(c) Any contact if the person is the victim of a crime that was committed by the defendant. For the purposes of this subdivision, "crime" means a conviction for an offense, whether completed or preparatory, that is a dangerous offense as defined in section 13-105, a serious offense or  violent or aggravated felony as defined in section 13-706 or any offense in title 13, chapter 14 or 35.1.

2. Includes unlawful picketing, trespassory assembly, unlawful mass assembly, concerted interference with lawful exercise of business activity and engaging in a secondary boycott as defined in section 23-1321 and defamation in violation of section 23-1325. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 13-901, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-901. Probation

A. If a person who has been convicted of an offense is eligible for probation, the court may suspend the imposition or execution of sentence and, if so, shall without delay place the person on intensive probation supervision pursuant to section 13-913 or supervised or unsupervised probation on such terms and conditions as the law requires and the court deems appropriate, including participation in any programs authorized in title 12, chapter 2, article 11. If a person is not eligible for probation, imposition or execution of sentence shall not be suspended or delayed. If the court imposes probation, it may also impose a fine as authorized by chapter 8 of this title. If probation is granted the court shall impose a condition that the person waive extradition for any probation revocation procedures and it shall order restitution pursuant to section 13-603, subsection C where there is a victim who has suffered economic loss. When granting probation to an adult the court, as a condition of probation, shall assess a monthly fee of not less than sixty-five dollars $65 unless, after determining the inability of the probationer to pay the fee, the court assesses a lesser fee. This fee is not subject to any surcharge.  In justice and municipal courts the fee shall only be assessed when the person is placed on supervised probation.  For persons placed on probation in the superior court, the fee shall be paid to the clerk of the superior court and the clerk of the court shall pay all monies collected from this fee to the county treasurer for deposit in the adult probation services fund established by section 12-267. For persons placed on supervised probation in the justice court, the fee shall be paid to the justice court and the justice court shall transmit all of the monies to the county treasurer for deposit in the adult probation services fund established by section 12-267. For persons placed on supervised probation in the municipal court, the fee shall be paid to the municipal court. The municipal court shall transmit all of the monies to the city treasurer who shall transmit the monies to the county treasurer for deposit in the adult probation services fund established by section 12-267.  Any amount assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be used to supplement monies used for the salaries of adult probation and surveillance officers and for support of programs and services of the superior court adult probation departments.

B. The period of probation shall be determined according to section 13-902, except that if a person is released pursuant to section 31-233, subsection B and community supervision is waived pursuant to section 13-603, subsection K, the court shall extend the period of probation by the amount of time the director of the state department of corrections approves for the inmate's temporary release.

C. The court, in its discretion, may issue a warrant for the rearrest of the defendant and may modify or add to the conditions or, if the defendant commits an additional offense or violates a condition, may revoke probation in accordance with the rules of criminal procedure at any time before the expiration or termination of the period of probation. If the court revokes the defendant's probation and the defendant is serving more than one probationary term concurrently, the court may sentence the person to terms of imprisonment to be served consecutively.

D. At any time during the probationary term of the person released on probation, any probation officer, without warrant or other process and at any time until the final disposition of the case, may rearrest any person and bring the person before the court.

E. The court, on its own initiative or on application of the probationer, after notice and an opportunity to be heard for the prosecuting attorney and, on request, the victim, may terminate the period of probation or intensive probation and discharge the defendant at a time earlier than that originally imposed if in the court's opinion the ends of justice will be served and if the conduct of the defendant on probation warrants it.  on the petition of the victim pursuant to section 12-1809 and Before the court terminates the period of probation or intensive probation early, the court after hearing from the victim shall determine whether to prohibit the defendant from contacting the victim and, if necessary, issue an injunction against harassment against the defendant. If the court issues an injunction against harassment, the injunction must be served on the defendant before terminating the period of probation or intensive probation.

F. When granting probation the court may require that the defendant be imprisoned in the county jail at whatever time or intervals, consecutive or nonconsecutive, the court shall determine, within the period of probation, as long as the period actually spent in confinement does not exceed one year or the maximum period of imprisonment permitted under chapter 7 of this title, whichever is the shorter.

G. If the defendant is placed on lifetime probation and has served one year in the county jail as a term of probation, the court may require that the defendant be additionally imprisoned in the county jail at whatever time or intervals, consecutive or nonconsecutive, the court shall determine, within the period of probation if the defendant's probation is revoked by the court and the defendant is subsequently reinstated on probation.  The period actually spent in confinement as a term of being reinstated on probation shall not exceed one year or, when including the initial one year period of incarceration imposed as a term of probation, the maximum period of imprisonment permitted under chapter 7 of this title, whichever is the shorter.

H. If restitution is made a condition of probation, the court shall fix the amount of restitution and the manner of performance pursuant to chapter 8 of this title.

I. When granting probation, the court shall set forth at the time of sentencing and on the record the factual and legal reasons in support of each sentence.

J. If the defendant meets the criteria set forth in section 13-901.01 or 13-3422, the court may place the defendant on probation pursuant to either section. If a defendant is placed on probation pursuant to section 13-901.01 or 13-3422, the court may impose any term of probation that is authorized pursuant to this section and that is not in violation of section 13-901.01. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 31-411.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE31-411.01. Parole or community supervision for persons previously convicted of possession or use of marijuana, a dangerous drug or a narcotic drug; treatment; prevention; education; termination of parole or community supervision

A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, every prisoner who is eligible for parole or community supervision pursuant to section 41-1604.16 shall be released upon on parole or community supervision if in its sole discretion the board of executive clemency determines that there is a substantial probability that the prisoner will remain at liberty without violating the law and the release is in the best interests of the people of this state. If a prisoner is denied release on parole or community supervision, the prisoner is not entitled to a rehearing under this section.

B. If a prisoner is released upon on parole or community supervision pursuant to this section, the board of executive clemency shall order that as a condition of parole or community supervision the person:

1. Be required to participate in an appropriate drug treatment or education program that is administered by a qualified agency, organization or individual approved by the department of health services and that provides the treatment or education to persons who abuse controlled substances. Each person who is enrolled in a drug treatment or education program shall pay for the costs of participation in the program to the extent of the person's financial ability.

2. On the request of the victim, be prohibited from contacting the victim. The board of executive clemency may inform the victim of the victim's ability to petition the court for an injunction against harassment pursuant to section 12-1809 prohibiting the person from contacting the victim.

C. A prisoner who is released upon on parole or community supervision pursuant to this section shall remain on parole or community supervision until the prisoner reaches the earned release credit date pursuant to section 41-1604.10 or the community supervision expiration date pursuant to section 41-1604.07. A prisoner who is on earned release credit release pursuant to section 41-1604.10 is not under the control of the state department of corrections and the department is not required to provide parole services or to otherwise supervise any prisoner released except that the department may revoke the release of the prisoner until the final expiration of the prisoner's sentence if the department believes that the released prisoner has engaged in criminal conduct during the term of the prisoner's release.

D. The board of executive clemency may revoke the prisoner's release if the prisoner violates the conditions of supervision that are imposed by the board or the state department of corrections. END_STATUTE

 

 

 

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 20, 2021.

 

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 20, 2021.