BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 8
Author: Yee (D), et al.
Amended: 1/31/13
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT : Violence Against Women Act
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution urges Congress to pass the Violence
Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, to ensure the
sustainability of vital programs designed to keep women and
families safe from violence and abuse.
Senate Floor Amendments of 1/31/13 strike two Act specific
references, reference the Senate and House reauthorization
bills, and add co-authors.
ANALYSIS : 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
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providing 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.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.
7.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 pass the Violence Against
Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, to ensure the sustainability
of vital programs designed to keep women and families safe from
violence and abuse.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 2/4/13)
AFSCME
San Bruno Police Department
San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium
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San Francisco Women's Political Committee
South San Francisco Police Department
JA:nl 2/6/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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