Restraining orders: protection of animals.

Existing law authorizes the court to issue a restraining order or a protective order to enjoin a party from specified behavior, such as, among other things, enjoining a person from molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, destroying the personal property of, or contacting another person, upon the showing of good cause. Existing law authorizes the court to issue an ex parte order under specified circumstances related to the protection of a ward of the court. This bill would additionally authorize the court, on a showing of good cause, to include in restraining orders or protective orders an order granting the petitioner or applicant exclusive care, possession, or control of an animal that is held by the petitioner or a person protected by a restraining order or that resides in the same residence or household that is held by the petitioner or a person protected by a restraining order or that resides in the same residence or household and an order for the respondent or restrained person to stay away from, and refrain from taking or harming, that animal, as specified. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions, including the provision relating to the protection of a ward of the court. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 527.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure and Section 213.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, proposed by AB 1081, that would become operative only if AB 1081 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, and this bill is chaptered last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, proposed by AB 1081 and SB 196, that would become operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, and this bill is chaptered last.