Topic: Domestic Violence

No. of States

States Enacting Laws

Domestic violence crime

16

AR, CA, CN, DE, GA, HI, IL, IN, LA, ME, NV, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA

Domestic violence order violation crime

14

AL, AZ, AR, CA, DE, HI, IL, LA, MD, NH, OK, OR, TN, UT

Domestic violence arrest authority

4

CA, MI ND, OR, TN

Domestic violence crime in presence of child

7

FL, GA, HI, IL, OH, OK OR

Crime of interfering with reporting crime

2

ND, OR

Spousal rape

2

SC, VA

Other related crime

4

CA, CN, ME, MD

Domestic violence evidence law

2

HI, OR

Domestic violence protective orders

21

AL, AR, CA, CO, CN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, TX, VA, WV

Domestic violence protective order firearm bar

12

AR, CA, CN, DE, HI, IN, KS, NE, NH, ND, OK, OR, TX

Full Faith and Credit for foreign protective orders

12

CA, CN, DE, ID, IA, MS, NV, NM, ND, OR, RI, WA

Bar on ordering mediation

2

NH, TX

Domestic violence victim services

9

CO, FL, LA, MT, NH, TX, UT, WV, WY

Domestic violence batterer intervention programs

7

CA, DE, NJ, OH, SC, TX, WA

Domestic violence training

2

AL, MS

Advocate privilege/record confidentiality

6

AL, IL, ME, OK, TN, WA

Domestic violence victim address confidentiality

3

CO, RI, TX (new driver license number)

Domestic violence other laws

10

AZ, CA, IL, LA, MN, NJ, NY, ND, VA, WA

Topic: Sex Assault

No. of States

States Enacting Laws

Sexual assault crimes

15

AZ, CO, CN, DE, FL, HI, IL, IN, LA, MT, NV, NH, OR, TX, VA

Sex crime: persons in position of trust (consent invalid)

7

KS, MS, MT, NE, OK, SC, TX, WA

Sex crimes: evidence law

1

OR

Sexual offender registration laws

34

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, TX, VA, WA, WV, WY

Internet posting of registration information

4

AZ, IN, MD, NV

Civil commitment of sex offenders

7

IL, IA, KS, MA, MO, TX, VA

DNA data base: collection of samples

10

AZ, CA, CO, LA, MD, MN, MT, NY, TX, WA

Date rape drugs listed as controlled substance

7

CO, HI, LA, NJ, SDTX, WI

HIV testing of offenders charged with sex crime

5

AZ, ID, MS, MO, OR

Other sex crime laws

11

CN, FL, HI, IL, LA, ME, MN, ND, OR, UT, WV

Topic: Stalking

No. of States

States Enacting Laws

Stalking crime

15

CO, FL, HI, KS, LA, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, UT, WA

Crime of privacy violation

2

HI, ID

Arrest for stalking

1

MS

Stalking/harassment protective order

4

CA, UT, VA, WA

Probation conditions

1

ND

Stalking of minors

1

NY

Stalking: other laws

4

CA, LA, ME, NE, NV

Violence against women legislation was an important topic for state legislators in 1999. The over 300 new laws on this topic was almost 100 percent greater than the number of such laws enacted in 1998 (154 separate acts). Domestic violence related legislation showed the greatest gains, 128 from a mere 52 such laws in 1998 (in 1997, a more comparable year based on the number of state legislative bodies in session, there were 69 domestic violence laws enacted). Stalking legislation also showed great interest, going from 16 to 34 new acts.

A significant factor in sparking state legislative action on violence against women topics was federal legislation. Compliance with federal requirements was a factor in new state laws directed at

• Sexual offender registration (41 states and District of Columbia in past 2 years)
• Full Faith and Credit for foreign protective orders (26 states in the past 3 years)
• Firearm licensing restrictions upon persons subject to domestic violence protective orders (19 states in past 3 years)

Other issues receiving a high degree of legislative attention (15 or more states) included:

• Domestic violence crime
• Protective order violation crimes
• Stalking crimes
• Sexual assault crimes
• Domestic violence protective order procedures.

View state-by-state analysis of 1999 laws.

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