The bill amends sections 12-29-5 and 12-29-5.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29, titled "Domestic Violence Prevention Act." It introduces changes to the disposition of domestic violence cases, particularly concerning batterer's intervention programs and the financial obligations of the defendants. The bill removes the requirement for defendants to pay for their own batterer's intervention programs, allowing the court to decide if the defendant will bear the cost. Additionally, the bill modifies the standards for batterer's intervention programs, changing the mandatory minimum duration from a fixed forty hours over twenty weeks to a duration that may be determined by the court. It also provides for the possibility of accepting documented participation in batterer's intervention programs from other jurisdictions or while incarcerated as partial fulfillment of the mandated program attendance.

The bill further outlines the duties and responsibilities of the committee overseeing batterer's intervention programs, including establishing and revising standards, monitoring and certifying programs, and handling appeals and complaints. It allows for the state public safety grant administration office to provide grants to improve access to batterer's intervention programs, especially for indigent offenders. The bill mandates that every record of conviction or plea of nolo contendere for a felony involving domestic violence indicates the defendant's prohibition from possessing firearms and requires the surrender of any firearms. The act would take effect upon passage, granting courts more discretion in the management of domestic violence cases and the financial responsibilities of the defendants.