Chapter 292 Oregon Laws 2003

AN ACT

HB 2177

Relating to stalking; amending ORS 30.866, 163.738 and 163.755; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 163.755 is amended to read:

163.755. (1) Nothing in ORS 30.866 or 163.730 to 163.750 shall be construed to permit the issuance of a court’s stalking protective order under ORS 30.866 or 163.738, the issuance of a citation under ORS 163.735, a criminal prosecution under ORS 163.732 or a civil action under ORS 30.866:

(a) For conduct that is authorized or protected by the labor laws of this state or of the United States.

(b) By or on behalf of a person who is in the legal or physical custody of a law enforcement unit or is in custody under ORS chapter 419C.

(c) By or on behalf of a person not described in paragraph (b) of this subsection to or against another person who:

(A) Is a parole and probation officer or an officer, employee or agent of a law enforcement unit, a county juvenile department or the Oregon Youth Authority; and

(B) Is acting within the scope of the other person’s official duties.

(2) As used in this section, “law enforcement unit” and “parole and probation officer” have the meanings given those terms in ORS 181.610.

SECTION 2. ORS 163.738 is amended to read:

163.738. (1)(a) A citation shall notify the respondent of a circuit court hearing where the respondent shall appear at the place and time set forth in the citation. The citation shall contain:

(A) The name of the court at which the respondent is to appear;

(B) The name of the respondent;

(D) The date, time and place at which the citation was issued;

(E) The name of the law enforcement officer who issued the citation;

(F) The time, date and place at which the respondent is to appear in court;

(G) Notice to the respondent that failure to appear at the time, date and place set forth in the citation shall result in the respondent’s arrest and entry of a court’s stalking protective order; and

(H) Notice to the respondent of potential liability under federal law for the possession or purchase of firearms or firearm ammunition and for other acts prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 2261 to 2262.

(b) The officer shall notify the petitioner in writing of the place and time set for the hearing.

(2)(a) The hearing shall be held as indicated in the citation. At the hearing, the petitioner may appear in person or by telephonic appearance. The respondent shall be given the opportunity to show cause why a court’s stalking protective order should not be entered. The hearing may be continued for up to 30 days. The court may enter:

(A) A temporary stalking protective order pending further proceedings; or

(B) A court’s stalking protective order if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(i) The person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engages in repeated and unwanted contact with the other person or a member of that person’s immediate family or household thereby alarming or coercing the other person;

(ii) It is objectively reasonable for a person in the victim’s situation to have been alarmed or coerced by the contact; and

(iii) The repeated and unwanted contact causes the victim reasonable apprehension regarding the personal safety of the victim or a member of the victim’s immediate family or household.

(b) In the order, the court shall specify the conduct from which the respondent is to refrain, which may include all contact listed in ORS 163.730 and any attempt to make contact listed in ORS 163.730. The order is of unlimited duration unless limited by law. If the respondent was provided notice and an opportunity to be heard, the court shall also include in the order, when appropriate, terms and findings sufficient under 18 U.S.C. 922 (d)(8) and (g)(8) to affect the respondent’s ability to possess firearms and ammunition or engage in activities involving firearms.

(3) The circuit court may enter an order under this section against a minor respondent without appointment of a guardian ad litem.

(4) If the respondent fails to appear at the time, date and place specified in the citation, the circuit court shall issue a warrant of arrest as provided in ORS 133.110 in order to ensure the appearance of the respondent at court and shall enter a court’s stalking protective order.

(5) The circuit court may also order the respondent to undergo mental health evaluation and, if indicated by the evaluation, treatment. If the respondent is without sufficient resources to obtain the evaluation or treatment, or both, the court shall refer the respondent to the mental health agency designated by the community mental health director for evaluation or treatment, or both.

(6) If the circuit court, the mental health evaluator or any other persons have probable cause to believe that the respondent is dangerous to self or others or is unable to provide for basic personal needs, the court shall initiate commitment procedures as provided in ORS 426.070 or 426.180.

(7) A law enforcement officer shall report the results of any investigation arising from a complaint under ORS 163.744 to the district attorney within three days after presentation of the complaint.

(8) Except for purposes of impeachment, a statement made by the respondent at a hearing under this section may not be used as evidence in a prosecution for stalking as defined in ORS 163.732 or for violating a court’s stalking protective order as defined in ORS 163.750.

SECTION 3. ORS 30.866 is amended to read:

30.866. (1) A person may bring a civil action in a circuit court for a court’s stalking protective order or for damages, or both, against a person if:

(a) The person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engages in repeated and unwanted contact with the other person or a member of that person’s immediate family or household thereby alarming or coercing the other person;

(b) It is objectively reasonable for a person in the victim’s situation to have been alarmed or coerced by the contact; and

(c) The repeated and unwanted contact causes the victim reasonable apprehension regarding the personal safety of the victim or a member of the victim’s immediate family or household.

(2) At the time the petition is filed, the court, upon a finding of probable cause based on the allegations in the petition, shall enter a temporary court’s stalking protective order that may include, but is not limited to, all contact listed in ORS 163.730. The petition and the temporary order shall be served upon the respondent with an order requiring the respondent to personally appear before the court to show cause why the temporary order should not be continued for an indefinite period.

(3)(a) At the hearing, whether or not the respondent appears, the court may continue the hearing for up to 30 days or may proceed to enter a court’s stalking protective order and take other action as provided in ORS 163.738.

(b) If respondent fails to appear after being served as required by subsection (2) of this section, the court may issue a warrant of arrest as provided in ORS 133.110 in order to ensure the appearance of the respondent in court.

(4) The plaintiff may recover:

(a) Both special and general damages, including damages for emotional distress;

(b) Punitive damages; and

(5) The court may enter an order under this section against a minor respondent without appointment of a guardian ad litem.

(6) An action under this section must be commenced within two years of the conduct giving rise to the claim.

(7) Proof of the claim shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(8) The remedy provided by this section is in addition to any other remedy, civil or criminal, provided by law for the conduct giving rise to the claim.

(9) No filing fee, service fee or hearing fee shall be charged for a proceeding under this section if a court’s stalking order is the only relief sought.

(10) If the respondent was provided notice and an opportunity to be heard, the court shall also include in the order, when appropriate, terms and findings sufficient under 18 U.S.C. 922 (d)(8) and (g)(8) to affect the respondent’s ability to possess firearms and ammunition or engage in activities involving firearms.

(11) ORS 163.741 applies to protective orders issued under this section.

(12) Except for purposes of impeachment, a statement made by the respondent at a hearing under this section may not be used as evidence in a prosecution for stalking as defined in ORS 163.732 or for violating a court’s stalking protective order as defined in ORS 163.750.

SECTION 4. This 2003 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2003 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor June 11, 2003

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 11, 2003

Effective date June 11, 2003

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