Including certain acts within the meaning of domestic abuse

This bill includes certain acts within the meaning of domestic abuse for purposes of Code chapter 236 (domestic abuse and civil protective orders). The bill defines “psychological abuse” as a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect, based on the totality of the circumstances, unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty.11. Psychological abuse may be committed directly or indirectly, including through the use of a third party. The bill adds psychological abuse as a form of domestic abuse when the psychological abuse is between family or household members who resided together at the time of the psychological abuse; between separated spouses or persons divorced from each other and not residing together at the time of the psychological abuse; between persons who are parents of the same minor child, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time; between family or household members residing together within the past year but who were not residing together at the time of the psychological abuse; or between persons who are in an intimate relationship or have been in an intimate relationship and have had contact within the past year of the psychological abuse. 1 committed under certain circumstances is considered an act of domestic abuse.2B (treatment of domestic abuse assault offenders). Code chapter 236 allows victims of domestic abuse to seek relief from domestic abuse by filing a petition in district court for a domestic abuse civil protective order (emergency, temporary, and permanent).