SB 49-WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS  2:20:25 PM VICE-CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 49(STA) "An Act relating to workplace violence protective orders; relating to attorney fees; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." 2:20:52 PM BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 49 on behalf of the sponsor as follows: [Original punctuation provided.] A few years ago, a member of the legal community contacted our office about a situation where a former employee made a credible threat that he intended to go into the employer's worksite and shoot as many people as he could. When the attorney representing the employer tried to obtain a restraining order, she realized that to protect the employer, she would need to file a civil lawsuit and ask for a temporary restraining order. That process takes several days to complete and often costs thousands of dollars. In contrast, people seeking a domestic violence protective order can usually get the court order within one day. Senate Bill 49, modeled after Alaska's domestic violence protective order process, allows an employer to file a petition for a protective order against an individual under two circumstances: first, an individual has committed an act of violence against an employer or employee at the workplace and second, an individual made a threat of violence against the employer or employee that may be carried out at the workplace. A violation of the provisions of the protective order would be the crime of violating a protective order, which is a class A misdemeanor. Senate Bill 49 will prohibit attorney fee awards against the petitioner in domestic violence restraining order proceedings, stalking and sexual assault protective orders, and ex parte protective orders. We worked closely with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on our legislation last year that is now Senate Bill 49 to ensure that this legislation provides employers with a more effective way to protect their workplace without reaching into the personal lives of their employees. Eleven states have laws providing for the issuance of protective or restraining orders that are specific to workplace violence. Utah is the most recent addition to this list, which passed a workplace violence protective order law in 2023. 2:23:05 PM VICE-CHAIR MERRICK announced invited testimony on SB 49. 2:23:21 PM BREDNA STANFILL, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 49. She stated ANDVSA represents 24 statewide member organizations, including 19 in rural Alaska and 16 off the road systems; these networks provide direct support to survivors. She highlighted that shelters often face safety threats along with the victims. She said SB 49 would allow organizations to seek protection when credible threats arise, without disclosing if someone is being sheltered. She shared an example from Emmonak Women's shelter, where staff were harassed from just outside the property linelegal action wasn't possible, but SB 49 would offer needed options. 2:26:20 PM EILEEN ARNOLD, Executive Director, Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC), Bethel, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 49. She stated that workplaces like TWC, which shelter victims from abusers, are sometimes directly threatened. Tools like SB 49 are needed to protect both staff and residents. She said that in her 10 years as director, there have been a few unforgettable times when she put staff on high alert. She gave an example of a situation when TWC was threatened by an abuser of a victim staying at TWC. Many victims don't get protective orders for reasons such as: distrust of law enforcement, fear it will not help, past orders not being served, and concern the protective order might reveal their location. She stated that programs like TWC need tools to set boundaries with people who use violenceto send a clear message that it's not acceptable and to protect those living and working in our women shelters. 2:30:29 PM VICE-CHAIR MERRICK held SB 49 in committee.