For purposes of the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Abuse shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between household members: (a) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury with or without a deadly weapon; or (b) Placing, by physical menace, another in fear of imminent bodily injury;
(2) Course of conduct shall mean a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose, including a series of acts of following, detaining, restraining the personal liberty of, or stalking the person or telephoning the person;
(3) Department shall mean the Department of Health and Human Services;
(4) Family or household members shall include spouses or former spouses, children, persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons who have a child in common whether or not they have been married or have lived together at any time, and other persons related by consanguinity or affinity;
(5) Harass shall mean to engage in a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously terrifies, threatens, or intimidates the person and which serves no legitimate purpose; and
(6) Law enforcement agency shall mean the police department or town marshal in incorporated municipalities and the office of the sheriff in unincorporated areas.
