Existing law permits a petitioner to seek a restraining order, including a temporary restraining order, to protect against domestic violence. Existing law requires the court to decide whether to grant a request for an ex parte restraining order on the same day that the petition is submitted to the court, which will be effective until the hearing on the petition, except as specified. Existing law directs the Judicial Council to promulgate rules and forms for a petitioner seeking a domestic violence restraining order and to assist local courts in developing procedures to assist a petitioner.

This bill would provide that domestic violence restraining orders or temporary restraining orders may be submitted electronically, as specified. The bill would authorize the petitioner to elect to receive documents by regular mail or to retrieve them from the court. The bill would also prohibit any fee for filing a petition pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the Judicial Council to develop or amend rules and forms as necessary to implement those provisions. The bill would make those provisions operative only upon an appropriation of funds for those purposes.

The bill would require that information about access to self-help services regarding domestic violence restraining orders be prominently visible on the superior court’s internet website. The bill would require the Judicial Council to develop or amend rules as necessary to implement those provisions.