Governor Signs Bills to Prevent Domestic and Sexual Violence & Enhance Assistance to Survivors

Press Release

SUBJECT: Governor Signs Bills to Prevent Domestic and Sexual Violence & Enhance Assistance to Survivors

Governor Jim Douglas today signed into law two bills to prevent domestic and sexual violence and reduce the affects of violence on victims, families and communities.

Governor Douglas said these issues were among his public safety priorities for the recently adjourned legislative session.

"I was very pleased to work with the Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services and legislators—particularly Senator Dick Sears—to make meaningful progress in these areas," the Governor said. "Vermont is very fortunate to have such a strong and committed coalition working to reduce the affects of violence on victims, families and our communities. These new laws are another important and significant step toward ending domestic and sexual violence in Vermont."

S.112, An Act Relating to Victims Compensation

Governor Douglas said the first bill makes meaningful changes to the Vermont Victims Compensation Program which was established in 1990 to provide financial assistance to victims of violent crime who have experienced a financial loss as the direct result of the crime.

The bill also places a temporary hold on the debt collection activities of a health care provider or facility when a victim has filed a claim with the Victims Compensation Program, until such time as the program has deemed the expense eligible or ineligible. This process rarely takes longer than 90 days, and the provider is held harmless with respect to any relevant statute of limitations.

"There have been many cases where collection companies have pursued victims of serious crimes for a debt the Compensation Program ultimately paid in full - significantly impacting their credit rating for nothing," the Governor said. "This provision can prevent that from happening in the future."

The bill also allows the Victims Compensation Program to pay for some mental health counseling for victims of sexual assault who undergo a forensic sexual assault examination, but who have not reported the crime to law enforcement.

"There are many reasons why someone who has been sexually assaulted may not immediately feel comfortable contacting the police - the perpetrator may be a family member or someone known to them, they may blame themselves, or feel afraid for their safety," Douglas said. "This measure will support victims who might not otherwise access mental health treatment, while also enabling the state to hold more perpetrators accountable, thereby preventing future crimes.

S.357, An Act Relating to Domestic Violence

The second bill signed by the Governor creates changes in the way Vermont responds to domestic violence, and directs significant new resources toward preventing these crimes in the future.

"This bill increases the penalty for domestic assault, enhances criminal statutes addressing aggravated domestic assault and violation of an abuse prevention order, and creates a new crime of interfering with a victim's attempt to access emergency services like police or medical attention," the Governor said. "The bill also changes civil law, enhancing protection orders and providing new guidelines for courts to use in determining how to set up safe visitation for parents who have committed domestic violence."

Governor Douglas said the new law also puts a premium on prevention. "Perhaps most importantly, this new law provides new funding for prevention programs and direct services to victims of domestic and sexual violence statewide."

Source