Protective orders: batterer's program.

Existing law authorizes a court to issue an order to restrain any person in order to prevent acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse and to provide for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence for a period sufficient to enable these persons to seek a resolution of the causes of the violence. Existing law further authorizes a court to, after notice and hearing, issue an order requiring the restrained party to participate in a batterer's program, as specified. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2016, require a restrained party ordered to participate in a batterer's program to register for the program by a specified deadline, to, at the time of enrollment, sign all necessary program consent forms for the program to release specified documents, including proof of enrollment, to the court and the protected party or his or her attorney, and to provide the court and the protected party with specified information regarding the program. The bill would require the Judicial Council, by July 1, 2016, to revise or promulgate forms as necessary to effectuate these provisions.