Assembly Bill No. 107–Committee on Judiciary

 

(On Behalf of Attorney General)

 

February 12, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

 

SUMMARY—Clarifies that person convicted of battery constituting domestic violence within 7 years before or after principal offense has committed prior offense for purposes of determining penalty. (BDR 15‑481)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to crimes; clarifying that a person convicted of a battery that constitutes domestic violence within 7 years before or after the principal offense has committed a prior offense for the purposes of determining a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1.  NRS 200.485 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    200.485  1.  Unless a greater penalty is provided pursuant to NRS

1-3  200.481, a person convicted of a battery that constitutes domestic violence

1-4  pursuant to NRS 33.018:

1-5    (a) For the first offense within [the immediately preceding] 7 years, is

1-6  guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

1-7       (1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not

1-8  less than 2 days, but not more than 6 months; and

1-9       (2) Perform not less than 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours, of

1-10  community service.

1-11  The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $200, but not

1-12  more than $1,000. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this

1-13  paragraph may be served intermittently at the discretion of the judge or

1-14  justice of the peace, except that each period of confinement must be not

1-15  less than 4 consecutive hours and must occur either at a time when the

1-16  person is not required to be at his place of employment or on a weekend.

1-17    (b) For the second offense within [the immediately preceding] 7 years,

1-18  is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:


2-1       (1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not

2-2  less than 10 days, but not more than 6 months; and

2-3       (2) Perform not less than 100 hours, but not more than 200 hours, of

2-4  community service.

2-5  The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $500, but not

2-6  more than $1,000.

2-7    (c) For the third and any subsequent offense within [the immediately

2-8  preceding] 7 years, is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished

2-9  as provided in NRS 193.130.

2-10    2.  In addition to any other penalty, if a person is convicted of a battery

2-11  which constitutes domestic violence pursuant to NRS 33.018, the court

2-12  shall:

2-13    (a) For the first offense within [the immediately preceding] 7 years,

2-14  require him to participate in weekly counseling sessions of not less than 1

2-15  1/2 hours per week for not less than 6 months, but not more than 12

2-16  months, at his own expense, in a program for the treatment of persons who

2-17  commit domestic violence that has been certified pursuant to NRS 228.470.

2-18    (b) For the second offense within [the immediately preceding] 7 years,

2-19  require him to participate in weekly counseling sessions of not less than 1

2-20  1/2 hours per week for 12 months, at his own expense, in a program for the

2-21  treatment of persons who commit domestic violence that has been certified

2-22  pursuant to NRS 228.470.

2-23    3.  An offense that occurred within 7 years immediately preceding the

2-24  date of the principal offense or after the principal offense constitutes a

2-25  prior offense for the purposes of this section when evidenced by a

2-26  conviction, without regard to the sequence of the offenses and

2-27  convictions. The facts concerning a prior offense must be alleged in the

2-28  complaint, indictment or information, must not be read to the jury or

2-29  proved at trial but must be proved at the time of sentencing and, if the

2-30  principal offense is alleged to be a felony, must also be shown at the

2-31  preliminary examination or presented to the grand jury.

2-32    4.  In addition to any other fine or penalty, the court shall order such a

2-33  person to pay an administrative assessment of $35. Any money so collected

2-34  must be paid by the clerk of the court to the state treasurer on or before the

2-35  fifth day of each month for the preceding month for credit to the account

2-36  for programs related to domestic violence established pursuant to NRS

2-37  228.460.

2-38    [4.] 5.  In addition to any other penalty, the court may require such a

2-39  person to participate, at his own expense, in a program of treatment for the

2-40  abuse of alcohol or drugs that has been certified by the bureau of alcohol

2-41  and drug abuse in the department of human resources.

2-42    [5.] 6.  If a person is charged with committing a battery which

2-43  constitutes domestic violence pursuant to NRS 33.018, a prosecuting

2-44  attorney shall not dismiss such a charge in exchange for a plea of guilty,

2-45  guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to a lesser charge or for any other

2-46  reason unless he knows, or it is obvious, that the charge is not supported by

2-47  probable cause or cannot be proved at the time of trial. A court shall not

2-48  grant probation to and, except as otherwise provided in NRS 4.373 and

2-49  5.055, a court shall not suspend the sentence of such a person.


3-1    [6.] 7.  For the purposes of this section:

3-2    (a) “Battery” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of

3-3  subsection 1 of NRS 200.481; and

3-4    (b) “Offense” includes a battery which constitutes domestic violence

3-5  pursuant to NRS 33.018 or a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction

3-6  that prohibits the same or similar conduct.

3-7    Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

3-8  H