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Sen. Hardy introduces S.9 to permit after‑hours orders for sexual assault victims
Summary
Senator Hardy said S.9 would direct the court administrator to establish procedures so victims of sexual assault can obtain protective orders during evenings, weekends and holidays, mirroring existing after‑hours processes available for relief from domestic abuse orders.
Senator Hardy (Addison District) gave the committee a brief overview of S.9, a bill aimed at ensuring victims of sexual assault can obtain emergency court orders during off hours, including weekends and holidays.
"This bill just directs the court administrator to establish procedures for a plaintiff to obtain an order against sexual assault at their regular court orders or on weekends and holidays," Hardy told the committee. He said the language mirrors existing statute for after‑hours Relief From Abuse (RFA) orders and was drafted in consultation with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and with input from judicial staff and a judge who recommended parallel procedures.
Hardy said the measure is intended to address gaps on college campuses and in communal‑living settings where victims may need immediate access to relief outside typical court hours. He described the bill as a technical alignment to give sexual‑assault plaintiffs the same after‑hours access currently available to victims of domestic abuse.
The committee did not take action on S.9 at the Jan. 20 meeting; Hardy said the bill will be available on the legislature’s website and that he and stakeholders would continue to coordinate language and implementation details with the court administrator.
