HB 1958 -- Domestic Violence

Sponsor:  Newman

This bill changes the laws regarding domestic violence.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Changes the definition of "domestic violence" as it relates
to the reporting of incidents of domestic violence in the State
Highway Patrol's Missouri Crime Index to include disputes arising
between a person who is or has been in a continuing social
relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim;

(2)  Changes the definition of "family or household member" as it
relates to domestic violence shelters to include adults who are
presently residing together or have resided together in the past,
an adult who is or has been in a continuing social relationship
of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, and adults who
have a child in common regardless of whether they have been
married or have resided together at any time;

(3)  Authorizes law enforcement officers responding to the scene
of an alleged act of domestic violence to remove a firearm from
the scene if the officer has probable cause to believe that an
act of domestic violence has occurred and the officer has
observed the firearm on the scene during the response; and

(4)  Prohibits any person from possessing a firearm if he or she:

(a)  Is subject to a court order that was issued after a hearing
of which the person received actual notice; restrains the person
from harassing, stalking, or threatening a family or household
member or a child of the member or person; and includes a finding
that the person is a credible threat to the physical safety of
the member or a child; or

(b)  Has been found guilty of or pled guilty to a misdemeanor
domestic assault crime.

Anyone who violates the provision regarding the possession of a
firearm will be guilty of a class D felony.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm