Protective orders: mental health recovery 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, 2021, after notice and hearing, authorize a court to issue an order requiring the restrained party to participate in a mental health recovery program approved by the Department of Public Health. The bill would provide that the 2 goals of the mental health recovery program are to stop domestic violence and help the mental health of the batterer. The bill would also require the Judicial Council to revise or promulgate forms for those purposes.