The bill HB76 amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to broaden the definition of domestic violence victims by including additional family members. Specifically, it adds grandparents, step-grandparents, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren to the list of individuals eligible for protection under domestic violence laws. The bill also classifies domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation as a Class B felony and clarifies the definition of "household member" to exclude non-romantic or non-intimate co-residents. Furthermore, it provides a detailed definition of a "dating relationship" to enhance legal clarity. In addition to these insertions, the bill modifies existing language by replacing shall with more precise terms to clarify the meanings related to abuse, court proceedings, and protection orders. It maintains current definitions and penalties for various degrees of domestic violence, including minimum terms of imprisonment for repeat offenders and those who violate protection orders. The bill emphasizes the significance of documenting incidents of domestic violence that occur in the presence of children under 14 years old. Importantly, it specifies that the implementation of this bill will not necessitate additional local funding, and it is set to take effect three months after being approved by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-6-130, 13A-6-131, 13A-6-132
Enrolled: 13A-6-130, 13A-6-131, 13A-6-132, 13A-6-138, 30-5-2