BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 8
Author: Yee (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT : Violence Against Women
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution urges Congress to reintroduce
and pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, to
ensure the sustainability of vital programs designed to
keep women and families safe from violence.
ANALYSIS : Existing federal law:
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), was enacted in
Congress in 1994 and reenacted in 2000 and 2005. VAWA was
the first comprehensive legislative package that focused on
violence against women and their children. VAWA created
new legal tools and grant programs addressing domestic
violence, sexual assault, stalking and related issues.
This resolution declares the following:
1.VAWA was developed with the input of advocates from
around the country and from all walks of life, and
addresses the real and most important needs of victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and
stalking. VAWA is responsive, streamlined, and
constitutionally and fiscally sound, while providing
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strong accountability measures and appropriate federal
government oversight.
2.VAWA represents the voices of women and their families,
and the voices of victims, survivors, and advocates.
3.VAWA was first enacted in 1994, and has been the
centerpiece of the federal government's efforts to stamp
out domestic and sexual violence. Critical programs
authorized under VAWA include support for victim
services, transitional housing, and legal assistance.
4.Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and
stalking, once considered private matters to be dealt
with behind closed doors, have been brought out of the
darkness.
5.VAWA has been successful because it has had consistently
strong, bipartisan support for nearly two decades.
6.The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act provided a
five-year reauthorization for VAWA programs, and reduce
authorized funding levels by more than $144 million, or
19%, from the law's 2005 authorization.
7.While annual rates of domestic violence have dropped more
than 50 percent, domestic violence remains a serious
issue. Every day in the United States, three women are
killed by abusive husbands and partners. In California,
in 2010, there were 166,361 domestic violence calls,
including more than 65,000 that involved a weapon.
8.The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act included
several updates and improvements to the law.
9.There is a need to maintain services for victims and
families at the local, state, and federal levels.
Reauthorization would allow existing programs to continue
uninterrupted, and would provide for the development of
new initiatives to address key areas of concern.
This resolution urges Congress to reintroduce and pass the
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, to ensure the
sustainability of vital programs designed to keep women and
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families safe from violence.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
JA:nl 1/17/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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