CALIFORNIA – Eight California legislators from both the Assembly and the Senate gathered on the morning of Wednesday, June 12, to show their support for several domestic violence bills. The highlighted bills include SB 1000, SB 989, SB 963, and SB 690.
Each of these bills addresses different aspects of the issue, all with the goal of overhauling California’s domestic violence system. The collaboration was led by Senator Susan Rubio (District 22) and Senator Angelique Ashby (District 8), joined by Assemblymember Blanca E.
Rubio, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, and Assemblymember Eloise Reyes.
“Being an advocate goes beyond speaking to you about the trauma faced by domestic violence victims,” expressed Assemblymember Blanca Rubio. “Being an advocate means joining forces with other legislators to ensure we pass legislation that will one day eradicate domestic violence.”
If passed, the bill would extend the statute of limitations in California, allowing victims to seek justice up to 15 years after the incident, compared to the current five-year limit.
Ashby’s SB 989 would ensure that law enforcement conducts thorough investigations when these cases result in fatalities, improving investigative protocols and police training to better identify concealed homicides. Additionally, SB 963 would implement a program in emergency departments of acute care hospitals to confidentially identify victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
These bills are still on their way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he will decide whether to veto or sign them into law. The legislators remain hopeful that each of their bills will be approved, joining together in a united front for domestic violence survivors.
These legislative efforts represent a significant step towards improving the domestic violence system in California, providing victims with more time and resources to seek justice and support.
