This bill creates a new legal framework for anti-stalking orders to protect victims from repeated, severe harassment. It directly affects stalking victims (petitioners) and alleged stalkers (respondents) by establishing specific court procedures for obtaining protective orders. Key provisions require courts to issue orders prohibiting contact (including digital communication), surveillance, remote control of connected devices (like smart home systems), and proximity to victims' homes or workplaces. The law defines "stalking" broadly to include numerous offenses under existing penal codes, such as harassment, assault, and unauthorized sharing of intimate images. These orders can be issued quickly without notice for immediate threats, with final orders requiring a court hearing.
Establishes an "operation SNUG" program within the division of criminal justice services which provides grant awards to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence.
Prohibits the admissibility of evidence of a victim's sexual conduct, sexual predisposition, or manner of dress in civil actions or proceedings; provides limited exceptions.
Expands the purposes of the drug treatment and public education fund to include prevention and recovery programs; requires reporting to be made available on the office of addiction services and supports' website.
Relates to the provision of breast pumps and related collection and storage materials to certain incarcerated nursing birth parents who are confined in or committed to an institution or local correctional facility with or without their child subject to specific time limitations; requires institutions and local correctional facilities to provide pumps and related materials to such incarcerated birth parents; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to issue an annual report on data relating to incarcerated birth parents.
Provides that a lodging facility that fails to comply with certain requirements for providing information concerning services for human trafficking victims shall be liable for a civil penalty of five hundred dollars for a first offense and one thousand dollars for each subsequent offense; provides for concurrent enforcement by the director or commissioner of a municipal consumer affairs office or by the town attorney, city corporation counsel, or other lawful designee of a municipality.
Requires the office of victim assistance to notify crime victims of the availability of victim support services by providing such victims with a written notice of the availability of statewide programs.
Provides additional protection to judges and their family members under the Judicial Security Act; expands protection to domestic partners and adult children; relates to records to be kept private; relates to the continuation of the prohibition against the public disclosure of personal information; authorizes the chief administrator of the courts to develop procedures necessary to prevent the disclosure of personal information in the possession of the unified court system.
This bill allows minors under 18 to participate in certain court arraignments via electronic appearance instead of appearing in person. It permits this under specific conditions, such as when the minor is hospitalized, facing extreme weather, requesting the option with a guarantee of non-monetary release, or when no Youth Part judge is available. For electronic appearances involving minors, the court must determine that the virtual format serves the child's best interests and that physical attendance would unnecessarily disrupt important activities like school or medical treatment. The law also requires that all parties, including the prosecutor and the minor's legal advisor, consent to the electronic process on the record.
Establishes the crimes of benefiting from a labor trafficking venture, benefiting from a sex trafficking venture and aggravated benefiting from a sex trafficking venture; establishes civil action for victims of benefiting from a trafficking venture; revives such actions otherwise barred by the existing statute of limitations, grants trial preference to such actions; directs the chief administrator of the courts to promulgate rules for the timely adjudication of certain revived actions.
