Pro Tem Treat Passes Bill to Better Protect Victims of Domestic Violence

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today passed the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services Revolving Fund off the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 2039 passed unanimously.

The program will allow the Attorney General’s Office to provide better, and more immediate services to victims of domestic violence. Money from the fund will provide expedited statewide access and deliver more services to victims.

“Throughout my tenure in the Senate I have prioritized victims of the horrific crime of domestic violence,” Pro Tem Treat said. “We must do all we can to help these individuals escape the cycle of abuse they are in. I want to thank my colleagues for demonstrating their support for victims of domestic violence with the unanimous vote in favor of this bill.”

According to the language in Senate Bill 2039, the Attorney General shall expend money from the fund in order to provide statewide access to a stable system of delivery of services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, promote a coordinated community approach to serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and provide access to services through dedicated support of underserved population programs.

Any entity receiving money from the fund must have full certification as a domestic violence and sexual assault victim service agency, be a nonprofit and be subject to an annual audit. Additionally, such entities must not have received administrative sanctions.