The bill establishes a hope card program for individuals who have been granted protective orders in domestic abuse cases. It mandates the attorney general, in collaboration with district clerks of court, to develop and implement this program, which will issue a hope card to each plaintiff granted an order. Plaintiffs can request a hope card from the clerk of court at various stages, including when applying for an order or during hearings. The clerk is required to provide the hope card within three business days of the order being entered or the request being made, without charging any fees. The hope card will remain valid for two years or until the protective order expires, whichever comes first, and must include specific information about the plaintiff and the order.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that presenting a false hope card or a document claiming to be a hope card when one knows it is invalid constitutes a simple misdemeanor. This misdemeanor is punishable by up to 30 days of confinement and a fine ranging from $105 to $855. The bill also makes a conforming amendment to the Code regarding the maximum sentence for misdemeanants, specifically including violations related to the hope card program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 236.4