39Operational period of HRO orders

### 39 Operational period of HRO orders > > (1)  The Supreme Court must, when it imposes an HRO order, or an interim HRO order, on an offender, specify the period of the order (the ***operational period***). > > > (2)  The operational period – > > > > > > (a) of an HRO order may not be specified to be more than 5 years; or > > > > > > > (b) of an interim HRO order may not be specified to be less than 3 months or more than 6 months, unless the Supreme Court considers that a longer operational period is warranted. > > > (3)  The operational period of an HRO order, or an interim HRO order, in relation to an offender commences on whichever of the following days is the later: > > > > > > (a) the day on which the order is made; > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 39 Subsection (3) amended by No. 23 of 2025, s. 6, Applied:27 Nov 2025\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-11-27/act-2025-023#GS6@Hpa@EN) the day to which the commencement of the order is deferred under [section 35(4)(b)](#GS35@Gs4@Hpb@EN) or [section 37(2)(b)](#GS37@Gs2@Hpb@EN) ; > > > > > > > (c) the day on which the offender ceases to be in custody; > > > > > > > (d) the day on which the offender ceases under [section 15(1)](#GS15@Gs1@EN) to be subject to a declaration under [section 7(1)](#GS7@Gs1@EN) ; > > > > > > > (e) the day on which the offender ceases to be subject to another HRO order or interim HRO order. > > > (4)  An HRO order, or an interim HRO order, in relation to an offender remains in force until – > > > > > > (a) the operational period expires; or > > > > > > > (b) the order is cancelled under this Act; or > > > > > > > (c) a declaration is made under [section 7(1)](#GS7@Gs1@EN) in relation to the offender – > > > > whichever occurs first. > > > (5)  If an interim HRO order is suspended for a period, the operational period is extended by the period. > > > (5A)  [*\[Section 39 Subsection (5A) inserted by No. 23 of 2025, s. 6, Applied:27 Nov 2025\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-11-27/act-2025-023#GS6@Hpb@EN) If an HRO order is suspended for a period, the operational period is not extended. > > > (6)  An HRO order, or an interim HRO order, in relation to an offender, and the offender’s obligations under the order, are suspended during any period, after the operational period begins, in which the offender is in lawful custody, whether under this Act or any other law. > > > (7)  Nothing in this section prevents the Supreme Court from making a second or subsequent HRO order, or an interim HRO order, in relation to an offender. > > > (8)  Despite [subsection (7)](#GS39@Gs7@EN) , the Supreme Court may not make a consecutive interim HRO order in relation to an offender, if the total period of all consecutive interim HRO orders in relation to the offender would be more than 6 months or a longer period determined by the Court. > > > (9)  A day, or a part of a day, on which an interim HRO order is suspended does not count in the calculation of a period that applies in relation to an offender under [subsection (8)](#GS39@Gs8@EN) .