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Committee advances bill requiring certified batterers-intervention courses for some domestic‑violence offenders
Summary
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted to send House Bill 661, which would require judges to sentence certain domestic‑violence defendants to certified batterers intervention programs when available in the county, to full judiciary after public testimony from a survivor and counselor.
House Bill 661 — sponsored in committee by Representative White — would require a judge who sentences a defendant for certain domestic‑violence offenses to order participation in a certified batterers intervention program when such a program is available in the county.
The bill sets program length and minimum standards in statute: a minimum course length of 26 weeks and a maximum of 48 weeks; two‑hour sessions; and a counselor‑to‑participant ratio of 1:6. Under the bill, failure to complete the full certified course would allow the judge to revert the offender to the original sentence the court could have imposed, which may include incarceration.
Michelle Johns, who identified herself as a survivor and a licensed professional counselor, told the committee the bill is “about accountability and breaking the cycle of violence.” She said in testimony that many offenders she has assessed grew up where violence was normalized and that longer, intensive intervention can reduce recidivism and bring long‑term public‑safety benefits.
Committee members asked procedural and availability questions. The sponsor said about 40 counties already have certified programs available under the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council’s standards; the bill would require judges to use those certified programs where available.
On a recorded voice vote, the subcommittee voted to send House Bill 661 as amended to full judiciary (ayes: 9, nays: 0). The committee adopted a timely amendment before the final vote.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 661 (as amended) — Sent to full judiciary, 9–0.
What the bill would do next: If approved by the full Judiciary Committee and both chambers, the measure would require local judges to prioritize certified batterers‑intervention programs where the council’s certified programs are available in the county. The bill does not itself create new treatment providers or mandate funding; program availability remains a local implementation question.
