(The Center Square) – Legislation that would change how Ohio law enforcement responds to domestic violence calls and expands murder charges for anyone killing a family member is back in the Legislature for the third time.
The proposal, named Aisha’s Law, would require the attorney general to adopt rules that require training on evidence-based lethality assessment in the state’s basic peace officer training.
It’s the law that had been introduced in the past two General Assembly sessions, which lasted for two years each. It failed to pass the Senate each time.
“This issue is very personal to me as my mother was a survivor of domestic violence,” said Rep. Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton. “It is important that we pass Aisha’s Law quickly to equip law enforcement with better training in these situations and to offer more support to survivors.”
The bill would require officers who handle domestic violence complaints to be trained on intervention techniques and connect victims to advocacy programs. It would also require courts that issue domestic violence protection orders to have a judge or magistrate available to accept a petition for an order 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Child endangering would also include domestic violence in an occupied building when a child is present, and aggravated murder would include purposely causing the death of someone when the victim is a family or household member of the offender.
“Enough is enough,” said Rep. Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland. “How many more people must die as a result of domestic violence before this legislation is law? This General Assembly must prioritize this domestic violence bill to have risk assessment training for law enforcement and stop child endangerment. Ohioans are tired of empty promises. It is time for legislators to put people first.”
The bill is awaiting a committee assignment.
