(The Center Square) – Victims of domestic violence are often forced to flee spaces familiar to their abusers.
For many, that includes the workplace.
Legislators in the House have revived a bill to address the potential loss of income faced by survivors.
The bill was first introduced last year by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Macungie, where it passed the House but was never brought to the floor for a final vote by Senate leadership. In the lower chamber, it received bipartisan support, though 43 Republicans opposed it.
This time, the bill is being sponsored by committee chairs Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Philadelphia, and Rep. Seth Grove, R-York. In a fast-moving meeting, it passed unanimously from the committee.
Dawkins noted that the bill should have “no fiscal impact” on the coffers of the commonwealth.
The sponsors say it would “create an ‘express lane’ for claimants impacted by domestic violence and allow a domestic violence survivor to confidentially submit reasonable evidence of recent domestic violence.”
Initial entrance to that express lane requires victims to self-affirm that they or their family members’ safety would be jeopardized by continued employment. They then have 120 days to provide additional documentation, which can be a statement from a qualified professional, evidence of a protective order, or any other evidence that proves domestic violence has occurred.
Qualified professionals include therapists, case workers, clergy members, medical doctors and others who often encounter those suffering in domestic violence situations. The bill also directs the Department of Labor and Industry to work with the Office of Victim Advocate in implementing the law.
These claims are confidential, but the bill does stipulate that employers will not be charged for the benefits received by domestic violence victims. Employers are not required to file a request for this relief. Rather, it will be granted automatically when a claim is determined to be eligible.
The bill has the potential not only to support survivors in the wake of abuse but to take one tactic away from abusers who use financial leverage to keep their victims in a relationship.
According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, economic independence is one of the biggest predictors of whether a victim will be able to maintain separation from their abuser. They say 99% of domestic violence cases involve economic abuse.
