Senate Passes ‘Victims Economic Security and Safety Act’

The State Senate has approved a bill to ensure victims of sexual assault or domestic violence will have some economic protection. The legislation, Senate Bill 935, is called the “Victims Economic Security and Safety Act.”

State Senator Debbe Leftwich is principal author of the measure which would enable victims to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave from work to seek medical help, legal assistance, counseling, safety planning and other assistance without being penalized by their employers. She said it was based on similar legislation in Illinois as well as recommendations from the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women.

“Each year, approximately two million women are physically or sexually assaulted or stalked by an intimate partner in the United States. Between one-fourth and one-half of domestic violence victims report they lost a job due to, or at least in part, because of domestic violence,” Leftwich said. “But the fact is that it is more expensive for a business to replace an experienced worker then to ensure they have adequate leave time after a domestic or sexual assault.”

“Whether it is rape or domestic violence, it happens more than you and I would like to think, and it doesn’t matter what your race, religion or economic status is. They should not be further traumatized by having to choose between seeing a doctor or losing their job,” Leftwich said.

The legislation would apply to state agencies and those businesses employing 50 workers or more. The bill also states that the employer may require the worker to provide certification that they or a member of their household has been a victim of domestic or sexual violence. That documentation can come from a volunteer of a victim services organization, an attorney, a member of the clergy, medical professional or a police or other court record.

SB 935 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.