Plain English Breakdown
The bill states no reimbursement is required but does not specify the reason in the provided text.
Domestic Violence Prevention Act: Forced Marriage
This law adds forced marriage to California's Domestic Violence Prevention Act and allows courts to issue protective orders against people who arrange or support such marriages.
What This Bill Does
- Defines 'forced marriage' as a spousal relationship where one or both parties cannot consent because they are compelled by force, fraud, coercion, duress, abuse of power, or coercive control.
- Allows courts to include anyone who arranges, officiates, finances, or helps with a forced marriage in the same legal action for a protective order.
- States that interfering with, threatening, or trying to stop someone from participating in court proceedings counts as 'coercive control' under this law.
- Authorizes judges to issue protective orders if there is reasonable proof of past forced marriages or a credible risk one will happen soon.
- Requires courts to interpret the rules broadly to prevent forced marriage and related controlling behavior.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who are being pressured into entering, attempting to enter, or staying in a marriage against their will.
- Individuals who arrange, officiate, pay for, or help organize a forced marriage.
- Courts that issue protective orders and handle cases involving domestic violence.
Terms To Know
- Forced Marriage
- A spousal relationship where one or both people do not agree to it because they are forced, tricked, threatened, or controlled by someone else.
- Coercive Control
- Behavior that limits a person's freedom, such as isolating them from friends and family or stopping them from participating in court cases.
- Protective Order
- A legal order issued by a judge to stop someone from harming another person or disturbing their peace.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill states that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies, but it does not explain the specific reason why.
- The law applies even if the marriage has already happened or would be illegal in California or another place, though it does not list every possible location.