By Dave Donaldson
The House has corrected an incomplete law originally passed four years ago. And the change makes living in rural Alaska a little bit safer. Anchorage Democrat Lindsey Holmes told members that, although sexual assault restraining orders were put into statute in 2006, there was “an oversight” in the legislation.
The legislature forgot to give permission to magistrates and District Court judges to actually issue the restraining orders. It has now come to everyone’s attention and we are starting to see cases across the state in which mgistrates and District Court Judges are not issuing these orders. And it’s leaving some people in Rural areas without access to them.
The bill passed with no opposition and next goes to the Senate where it is expected to get quick action.
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