orders of protection; process servers

Courts can now order defendants to transfer firearms to law enforcement within 24 hours if they are deemed a credible threat.

A central repository is established to maintain all orders of protection and register them with the national crime information center.

Defendants subject to orders issued after a hearing must complete an approved domestic violence offender treatment program.

Courts can grant the plaintiff exclusive care, custody, and control of any animal owned by either party.

Service of process rules are updated to specify which law enforcement agencies or constables must serve orders based on the court that issued them.

The bill clarifies that courts may issue 'cross orders of protection' when opposing parties file separate petitions.

Orders of protection that are not served on the defendant within one year of issuance automatically expire.

The bill clarifies that an order remains valid and effective even if issued by a lower court while a family law case was pending in a higher court.