Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) Introduces Legislation to Assist Victims of Domestic Violence to Maintain Employment and Economic Stability

Washington, D.C. - To provide victims of domestic violence with greater employment protections and increased economic stability, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) introduced a measure today that would entitle victims of domestic violence to unpaid emergency leave and unemployment benefits.

"The fallout from an abusive home goes well beyond physical and mental injuries," Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said. "Often, victims who are trying to hide from an abuser are tracked down at their workplace, harassed and even followed home. Under my bill, should a victim of domestic violence be forced to leave a job, the person would be entitled to unemployment benefits. They would also be able to take time off from work to obtain legal assistance, medical care or to address other immediate needs without the fear of being fired."

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said about half the states in the country - including California - already have state laws that extend unemployment compensation to victims of domestic violence in certain circumstances. The proposed measure, called the Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE), would replace the uneven and often insufficient protections offered by existing state laws with a federal standard that would apply uniformly throughout the nation.

"The Security and Financial Empowerment Act would help provide the financial security a victim of domestic violence needs to escape her abuser," said Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, who introduced the legislation in the House along with U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. "Victims of domestic violence should not be forced to place themselves in further jeopardy -- or fail to seek help -- because they fear losing the income they need to care for themselves and their children."

The SAFE Act would do the following:

• Allow victims who leave their jobs because of domestic violence concerns to qualify for unemployment benefits. The measure would also waive the requirement for them to immediately look for work to allow them the time to first address more pressing safety issues.

• Allow eligible employees to take up to 30 days of unpaid leave to handle domestic violence-related priorities such as finding a new place to live, obtaining medical care, counseling and attending court appearances related to restraining orders, divorce proceedings and child custody proceedings.

• Prohibit employers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence in the hiring process and require the employer to reasonably accommodate the known limitations of survivors where doing so does not pose an undue hardship. Under the proposal, employers who fail to comply would be subject to monetary damages.

• Prohibit insurance companies and employers who provide insurance from not insuring victims of domestic and sexual violence due to a fear of abuse- related insurance claims and establish confidentiality guidelines regarding a victim's past injuries and treatment.

• Create a workplace safety tax credit for employers who implement workplace safety programs to combat violence against women.

• Authorize a national resource center and clearinghouse to provide information and assistance to employers and labor organizations to help victims of domestic violence.

With domestic violence estimated at an annual cost to U.S. employers of $3 billion to $13 billion annually, many in the business sector realize that the provisions in the SAFE Act would help reduce the costs to business over the long run.

According to Lynn Harman, corporate counsel for Harman International Industries, Incorporated, the SAFE Act is good for victims of domestic violence and for employers. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the consumer and professional markets and has more than 10,000 employees worldwide.

"We developed our own domestic violence policy and training program in the United States because we believe that domestic violence has an impact on business. The SAFE Act would be good for American businesses because corporations have a responsibility to develop meaningful domestic violence policies, training and support programs. After all, domestic violence doesn't just stay at home when an employee goes to work," Ms. Harman said.

The NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, which has been a leading advocate on behalf of victims of domestic and sexual violence, helped develop the legislation. Lisalyn Jacobs, Vice President for Government Relations at NOW Legal Defense, said, "No one should be forced to choose between their safety and their livelihood. SAFE will go a long way towards ensuring that no one ever will again."

An identical measure was introduced today in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington State and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. Similar legislation introduced in the previous Congress was known as the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), which continues to be the formal name of the measure.

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Congresswoman Roybal-Allard
Washington, D.C., Office: 2330 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-1766. Fax: (202) 226-0350.
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