Bill > HB222

This bill introduces a comprehensive framework for workplace violence protective orders in Alaska, allowing employers to seek court protection against individuals who have committed or threatened violence in the workplace. Specifically, the bill enables employers to file petitions in district or superior courts for protective orders against individuals who have either committed an act of violence or made a threat of violence that could reasonably be carried out at the workplace. The protective orders can prohibit the respondent from making threats, contacting employees, or entering the workplace, and are typically effective for six months. The bill also establishes provisions for ex parte (emergency) orders, modification of existing orders, and mandates that these orders be entered into a central registry. Importantly, the bill includes several procedural safeguards, such as requiring a hearing with at least 10 days' notice to the respondent, ensuring that filing fees are waived, and prohibiting attorney fees from being awarded against petitioners. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include workplace violence protective orders in various legal contexts, such as defining violations of protective orders and expanding the powers of district judges and magistrates. The legislation aims to provide employers with a legal mechanism to protect their employees from potential workplace violence while establishing clear guidelines for obtaining and enforcing such protective orders.

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https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB222