Legislative update 2008

Domestic Violence Funding

In light of devastating cuts to the Commonwealth's social services budget, Kentucky's fifteen domestic violence programs (shelters) were rellieved to find that their state funding was not reduced. Unfortunately, flat state general fund dollars are coupled with a significant decrease in revenue from marriage license fees; a loss in federal funding: and, as the economy worsens, a drop in private giving to domestic violence programs. This loss in funding paried with the ever-increasing costs of providing shelter and services--twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week--has resulted in a statewide, immediate operating deficit of over $800,000 dollars--forcing programs to cut staff and reduce services to victims.

New Laws

News laws approved during the 2008 regular session of the General Assembly went into effect on July 15, 2008 . Two bills that were of particular interest to KDVA were SB 58 and HB 161.

SB 58 increases penalties for those who torture dogs or cats

KDVA, at the request of the Humane Society of the United States, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of this bill because of the clear link between abuse of pets and violence in the home. Seventy-one percent of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their partners have threatened, injured or killed family pets. Under SB 58, causing physical injury to a dog or cat as a result of torture is a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail, while causing serious physical injury or death is a Class D felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison.
KDVA has long been a supporter of the anti-bullying legislation. Although the Senate Judiciary Committe significantly revised HB 91 requires local school authorities to alert law enforcement when harassment at school involves a potential felony. Yearly reports on school harassment will be made to the Department of Education and the Legislature.
Regrettably, HB 161 introduced b y Representative Rob Wilkey, as well as a similar legislation introduced by Senator Ray Jones (SB 108), failed to pass the legislature. Both of these bills would have expanded the protective order statue to allow persons who are dating or have dated, but who have never lived together, and do not have a child in common, to petition for protective orders. These bills would have also expanded the warrantless arrest statute to cover persons in a dating relationship.

This article was taken from the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association Summer 2008 Newsletter