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Dear Neighbor,
A bill I authored to improve notification requirements on orders for protection in the wake of a local tragedy is now available for passage from the full House after receiving approval in two separate House committees this week.
Under current law, a person who is the family or household member of a person who has been abused can petition the court for an order for protection. Notice of any changes to the order must be provided to the petitioner and the respondent.
My bill, known as “Isaac’s Law” requires notice to also be provided to any custodian of the petitioner’s minor children.
This legislation is in response to a situation in Renville County, where 13-year-old Isaac Hoff – who was protecting his mother from being assaulted by her boyfriend – was stabbed by the boyfriend and died from his injuries.
Isaac’s grandmother was the custodian of Isaac and was never informed that her daughter had a restraining order against the murderer, or that it had been revoked. She claims that if she knew that she would never have let her grandson visit his mother.
The bill (H.F. 4101) I propose increases the scope of notice of any order for protection, hearing on an order for protection, and cancellation or modification of an order for protection in that it is provided to a custodian of a petitioner's minor children.
This bill has bipartisan support and the only two names on the bill belong to me and a Democrat co-author. There also is bipartisan authorship of the Senate’s companion bill.
This is an important bill and I hope we can bring it to enactment soon so the deadly scenario that played out in Renville County never happens again.
Sincerely,
Dean
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