Royce Anti-Stalking Bill Passes House, Sent to Senate

An anti-stalking bill sponsored by Rep. Ed Royce, which would make local restraining orders valid across the country, passed the House of Representatives without opposition Tuesday and was introduced in the Senate.

Royce (R-Fullerton), flanked by stalking victims and a host of their advocates, declared that his bill to expand their protections was well on its way to becoming law.

“The problem has been that when the victim leaves his or her home state, they lose their protection,� Royce said to a crowd in front of the Capitol that included Kathleen Gallagher Baty, a California woman who spent eight years dodging a stalker who tried to follow her from California to Florida.

Royce said Baty’s testimony helped persuade the California Legislature to pass the state’s anti-stalking law in 1990, which led to similar laws in all 50 states.

“She left the state. When her stalker was released from prison, he jumped parole and left the state. Her nightmare began anew,� Royce said. “Fortunately, the stalker was intercepted in another state, but others may not be so fortunate. We need to pass this bill to give stalking victims freedom to travel, to live without fear, to begin anew.�

Royce’s legislation would expand a 1994 domestic violence law to protect all stalking victims--not just those stalked by a spouse or intimate partner--and provide punishment for a violation with as much as 20 years in prison. The bill would also make it a crime to stalk someone on federal property, including post offices, military bases and national parks.

Under the law, a restraining order from one state would be valid in any other state, precluding the need for victims to spend the time and expense of seeking another court order.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), who recalled being stalked herself in the 1970s, said she already has about a half a dozen supporters for the legislation she introduced in the Senate, and expects it quickly pass through the Judiciary Committee and the Senate.

President Clinton is expected to sign the bill.