SCS/HCS/HB 744 - Under this act, adult protection orders and child protection orders, full or ex parte, may be granted to restrain or enjoin an individual from committing or threatening to commit abuse against a pet. A protection order may include an order of possession of the pet where appropriate, as well as any funds needed to cover the medical costs resulting from abuse of the pet. "Pet" is defined in this act as a living creature maintained by a household member for companionship and not for commercial purposes. These provisions are identical to provisions of SS/SCS/SB 71 (2021) and substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 744 (2021), HB 2626 (2020), and SB 959 (2020).
Under current law, a court may issue a full adult order of protection, after a hearing, for at least 180 days and not exceeding one year. Under this act, if the court finds, after an evidentiary hearing, that the respondent poses a serious danger to the physical or mental health of the petitioner or a minor household member, the protective order shall be valid for at least two years and not more than ten years. The full order may be renewed annually for a period of at least 180 days and not more than one year from the expiration date of the previously issued order; except, in cases where the court finds the respondent poses a serious danger to the petitioner or a minor household member, then the order may be renewed periodically and shall be valid for at least two years and up to the life of the respondent. The court may include a provision that any full order of protection shall be automatically renewed for any term of renewal as set forth in this act.
If a court finds that the respondent poses a serious risk to the petitioner or a minor household member, the court shall not modify the order until a period of at least two years from the date of the original full order of protection was issued and only after a hearing and making written findings that the respondent has shown proof of treatment and rehabilitation and no longer poses a serious danger.
Under current law, the clerk issues a copy of any order of protection to the local law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) the same day the order is granted and the local law enforcement agency enters the information contained in the order into MULES. Under this act, the court shall provide all the necessary information regarding the order of protection for entry into MULES and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The sheriff shall enter the information into MULES within twenty-fours hours and MULES shall forward that information to NCIC, thus making the order viewable in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
These provisions are identical to provisions of SS/SCS/SB 71 (2021) and SCS/SB 415 (2021).
SARAH HASKINS