Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Committee concurs with Senate amendment to H.222 adding Rule 16 contempt procedure for domestic‑violence program noncompliance
Loading...
Summary
The Judiciary committee agreed to concur with a Senate amendment to H.222 that adds an explicit cross‑reference to Rule 16 of the Vermont Rules of Family Proceedings, allowing civil contempt proceedings in family court if a defendant fails to complete a court‑approved domestic violence accountability program. The motion passed 9-0-2.
The Judiciary committee voted to concur with the Senate amendment to H.222, which inserts an explicit reference to the civil‑contempt procedure under Rule 16 of the Vermont Rules of Family Proceedings when a defendant fails to complete a court‑approved domestic violence accountability program. The committee approved concurrence with nine members present in favor and two absent.
Ben Novogroski, Legislative Counsel with the Arts Legislative Council, told the committee the change is placed in section 2 at 15 VSA §11(o)(3)(C)(2)(J). He explained that the amendment adds a second sentence to the provision, stating that enforcement may proceed ‘‘pursuant to rule 16 of the Vermont rules of family proceedings,’’ and described Rule 16 as the civil‑contempt process in family court.
Novogroski said the cross reference clarifies that failure to comply with a court condition to complete a domestic violence accountability program would not itself be a criminal offense but could subject the defendant to civil contempt procedures. He summarized: "That rule is a civil contempt process in family court." He added that with the amendment, a defendant who does not complete an approved domestic violence accountability program may face civil contempt, rather than a new criminal sanction for noncompliance.
Committee members recorded that prior testimony had been taken on the measure and that the earlier committee vote had been 9‑0‑2, with two members absent. A motion to concur with the Senate amendment to H.222 was moved and seconded in committee; mover and seconder were not identified in the transcript.
The committee agreed to report the bill out with the Senate amendment; implementation mechanics, including which courts would handle enforcement and any local procedural guidance, were not specified during the discussion.
