Those who violate a valid order of protection could find themselves behind bars for at least 30 days.

Assemblyman David Weprin, D-Fresh Meadows, recently introduced A.10787 in the state Assembly. Companion legislation, S.4711, was introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, with co-sponsors LeRoy Comrie, D-St. Albans, Anna Kaplan, D-Great Neck, and Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo.

Similar legislation has passed the state Senate several times in recent years when Republicans held the chamber’s majority but the legislation was never passed by the state Assembly.

The 2020 version would amend the state’s Domestic Relations Law, the Family Court Act and the Criminal Procedure Law to mandate that those who violate orders of protection and have violated an order of protection on more than one occasion would be sent to jail for no less than 30 days, though the days would not have to be served consecutively upon the discretion of local judges.

“Violators must be held accountable. Mandatory jail times sends a strong message that orders of protection must be obeyed and that violations will not be tolerated in our state. This legislation will empower domestic violence victims and their families and give them greater peace of mind,” Weprin wrote in his legislative justification.