Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-Babylon) announced the Assembly passage of a series of bills that will provide better assistance, protection and justice to victims of domestic violence. Assemblywoman Jean-Pierre also put forward a resolution declaring May 3, 2016, as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Day in New York State (K.1225).

“Many times, victims of domestic violence face not only physical and emotional hurdles but also significant financial or legal obstacles that can impact their ability to get the justice they deserve,” said Jean-Pierre. “With the passage of this legislation, we are taking a proactive approach to protecting and empowering those affected by this senseless violence and helping make our communities a safer place for everyone.”

Protecting victims

All too often, domestic violence goes unreported, and it’s imperative we do all we can to make sure victims know they are not alone, noted Jean-Pierre.

Specifically, the Assembly’s legislative package includes measures to further protect victims by:

• prohibiting domestic violence offenders from possessing or purchasing a firearm (A.5257 and A.6340);
• requiring the interpretation of orders of protection in court proceedings (A.162);
• requiring hospitals to establish procedures regarding domestic violence and ongoing training programs for staff, and to designate a hospital staff member to coordinate services to victims (A.1232-A);
• extending a law authorizing referees to determine applications for orders of protection while family court is in session (A.9686); and
• allowing judges expanded discretion in sentencing defendants who are victims of domestic violence where the abuse was a significant factor in the commission of an offense (A.4409-B).

Strengthening victims’ rights

As victims of domestic violence and their families work to rebuild and move on with their lives, they deserve all the support and resources we can offer them, noted Jean-Pierre.

The Assembly’s legislation would:

• allow victims to recover non-economic damages from any or all defendants found liable for failure to obey or enforce domestic violence orders of protection or temporary orders of protection (A.260);
• require wireless telephone companies to allow victims of domestic violence to opt out of shared or family plans without incurring any penalties (A.326-A);
• prohibit employers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence (A.272);
• require companies allow victims of domestic violence to cancel contracts when there is a domestic violence incident report, a police report, an order of protection or a signed affidavit (A.274-A);
• require health insurers to provide domestic violence victims with the option to designate alternative contact information for claims or billing purposes (A.1358); and
• ensure victims of domestic violence understand their rights during criminal and family court proceedings by simplifying the language in court documents (A.9628).

In the United State alone, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, totaling more than 12 million individuals annually. Approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience physical domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are resources in our community that can help those affected by these tragedies begin to rebuild their lives, noted Jean-Pierre.¹

Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault can seek help or assistance 24 hours a day by calling the L.I Against Domestic Violence 24-hour hotline at 631-666-8833 or New York’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-942-6906. For further information, visit the New York State Office of Victim Services’ website at ovs.ny.gov or the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence website at opdv.ny.gov.

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