Bill > H6121

This bill prohibits civil arrests of individuals attending court proceedings, either for themselves or for a family or household member. Specifically, the bill defines a "court proceeding" broadly, including any court appearance, hearing, or filing of legal documents, and prevents arrests during travel to, during, and returning from such proceedings. The only exceptions are arrests with a valid court warrant or arrests for crimes committed directly in front of a law enforcement officer. If someone violates this prohibition by attempting to arrest a person protected under this law, they can be held in contempt of court and potentially sued for false imprisonment. The bill allows the arrested person or the Attorney General to bring a civil action, and successful plaintiffs can recover reasonable attorneys' fees. The legislation also provides a broad definition of "family or household member" and explicitly states that it does not reduce any existing legal protections against unlawful arrest. The bill includes a severability clause, meaning that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest of the law can still be enforced, and it will take effect immediately upon passage.

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