HB 151 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROCEEDINGS.

h.

Intentionally causing or attempting to cause an adult to be financially dependent by doing either or both of the following:

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05/31/202305/11/2023 01:3611:30 PMAM 35015201261.Restricting an adult’s access to economic resources, without justification, resulting in a significant or ongoing impediment to the adult’s financial autonomy, access to financial resources, ability to pay for basic needs, or a combination thereof.

2.

Stealing or defrauding of money or assets, exploiting the victim’s resources for personal gain, or withholding physical resources such as food, clothing, necessary medications, or shelter.

h.

i.

Any other conduct which a reasonable person under the circumstances would find threatening or harmful.

Section 2.

Amend § 1045, Title 10 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1045.

Relief available;

duration of orders, modification and termination.

(a) After consideration of a petition for a protective order, the Court may grant relief as follows:

in the form of any of the following:

(1) Restrain the respondent from committing acts of domestic violence, as defined in § 1041 of this title;

title.

(2) Restrain the respondent from contacting or attempting to contact the petitioner;

petitioner.

(3) Grant exclusive possession of the residence or household to the petitioner or other resident, regardless of in whose name the residence is titled or leased.

Such relief shall not affect title to any real property;

property.

(4) Order that the petitioner be given temporary possession of specified personal property solely or jointly owned by respondent or petitioner, including but not limited to, motor vehicles, checkbooks, keys and other personal effects;

effects.

(5) Grant temporary custody of the children of the parties to the petitioner or to another family member.

Either party may request visitation at any time during the proceeding.

The Court may provide for visitation by separate interim visitation order pursuant to Title 13, which order shall be binding upon and enforceable against both parties.

Such interim visitation order may include third-party supervision of any visitation, if necessary, in accordance with Chapters 7 and 19 of Title 13;

Title 13.

(6) Order the respondent to pay support for the petitioner and/or for the parties’ children, in accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 13, including temporary housing costs;

costs.

(7) Order the respondent to pay to the petitioner or any other family member monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of domestic violence committed by the respondent, including medical, dental and counseling expenses, loss of earnings or other support, cost of repair or replacement of real or personal property damaged or taken, moving or other travel expenses and litigation costs, including attorney’s fees;

fees.

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05/11/2023 11:30 AM (8) Order the respondent to temporarily relinquish to a police officer or a federally-licensed firearms dealer located in Delaware the respondent’s firearms and to refrain from purchasing or receiving additional firearms for the duration of the order.

The Court shall inform the respondent that he or she is prohibited from receiving, transporting, or possessing firearms for so long as the protective order is in effect;

effect.

(9) Prohibit the respondent from transferring, encumbering, concealing or in any way disposing of specified property owned or leased by parties;

parties.

(10) Order the respondent, petitioner and other protected class members, individually and/or as a group, to participate in treatment or counseling programs;

programs.

(11) Issue an order directing any law-enforcement agency to forthwith search for and seize firearms of the respondent upon a showing by the petitioner that the respondent has possession of a firearm, and a.

Petitioner can describe, with sufficient particularity, both the type and location of the firearm or firearms;

and b.

Respondent has used or threatened to use a firearm against the petitioner, or the petitioner expresses a fear that the respondent may use a firearm against them;

them.

(12) Order the respondent to return specified legal documents, such as passport, immigration papers, or social security card.

(12) (13) Grant any other reasonable relief necessary or appropriate to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future domestic violence.

Section 3.

This Act takes effect 90 days after its enactment.

SYNOPSIS This Act expressly adds the intentional restriction of another adult’s access to economic resources resulting in a loss of financial autonomy to the definition of abuse for protection from abuse proceedings.

This Act also specifies that tangible property of the petitioner includes legal documents belonging to the petitioner.

In addition, this Act codifies the existing practice of Family Court to allow relief by ordering respondents to return specific legal documents.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

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