Domestic violence: protective orders.

The Domestic Violence Prevention Act authorizes a judicial officer to issue a protective order after notice and a hearing for the purpose of preventing a recurrence of domestic violence and ensuring a period of separation of the persons involved, based on an affidavit showing reasonable proof of past abuse. The act defines domestic violence as abuse perpetrated against specified persons, and further defines abuse within that context. Existing law authorizes an order issued by the court pursuant to these provisions to have a duration of not more than 5 years, subject to termination or modification, as specified. Existing law authorizes those orders to be renewed, upon the request of a party, either for 5 years or permanently, subject to termination or modification, as specified. This bill would specify a party may request those orders be renewed for 5 or more years, or permanently, at the discretion of the court, subject to termination, modification, or subsequent renewal.