Official Text and Analysis.

Consolidates and harmonizes laws governing domestic violence protection orders, sexual assault protection orders, stalking protection orders, anti-harassment protection orders, vulnerable adult protection orders, and extreme risk protection orders under a new chapter governing all protection orders.

A null and void clause was added, making the bill null and void unless funded in the budget.

Provides that when a court enters a protection order, the court must enter an order to surrender and prohibit weapons "if appropriate" under RCW 9.41.800 (rather than "as required" in that statute).

Revises electronic filing and notification requirements as follows: (i) Removes the provision that the electronic filing system be accessible on the websites of every court clerk and the website for Washington courts, or an alternative online portal; (ii) requires the clerk to make all electronically filed documents available for electronic access statewide; (iii) provides that judicial officers may not be charged for electronic access and petitioners and respondents should not be charged for electronic filing of petitions or documents; (iv) removes language indicating electronic notification to the parties must be provided through the electronic filing system; and (v) revises language governing the information that should be part of the electronic notification system.

Reinstates current law that a filing fee may be charged for a petition for an antiharassment protection order, and that the court must waive the fee if the petitioner is not able to pay the filing fee. Reinstates the superior court civil filing fee of $53 for petitions for antiharassment protection orders.

Delays the effective date of the act until January 1, 2022. Delays the time period for implementation of various duties imposed on the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) until June 30, 2022, and removes a requirement for the AOC to report to the Legislature regarding standards for filing evidence and requirements for private vendors.

Provides that a respondent's or defendant's voluntary surrender of firearms or weapons, or testimony regarding surrender of firearms or weapons, under an extreme risk protection order or order to surrender and prohibit weapons may not be used against the respondent or defendant in any criminal prosecution (not just prosecutions under specifically listed provisions). Provides that the ability of a prosecutor to question a respondent about compliance with an order must be narrowly construed and may not be used to infringe on the right against self-incrimination.

Strikes the provision that says a court, when determining whether a substantial change in circumstances exists to allow modification or termination of a protection order, may not base its determination on the fact that time has passed without a violation of the order.

Strikes the provisions of the bill, including the bill's repeal of all existing laws governing protection orders and creation of one new chapter of law to govern all types of protection orders. Instead, amends existing laws governing domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs), sexual assault protection orders (SAPOs), stalking protection orders (Stalking POs), antiharassment protection orders (AHPOs), vulnerable adult protection orders (VAPOs), and extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs).

Consolidates and harmonizes laws governing domestic violence protection orders, sexual assault protection orders, stalking protection orders, anti-harassment protection orders, vulnerable adult protection orders, and extreme risk protection orders under a new chapter governing all protection orders.