Legislators announce capital happenings

S.B. 284, An Act Concerning the Protection of Pets in Domestic Violence Cases, permits a judge issuing domestic violence restraining orders to include a prohibition on harming or taking possession of a pet as part of the order.

H.B. 7313, An Act Concerning Domestic Violence, would give police departments the authority to issue protective orders in domestic violence cases when the courts are not open to do so.

Under current law, police have no authority to prevent someone arrested for domestic abuse from returning to a home shared with the victim until a court appearance is held.