OLYMPIA – Earlier this week, by a vote of 92-6 vote the State House passed a bill, HB 1729, which makes necessary changes to our state’s domestic violence laws.
“The last time these statutes were updated, domestic violence wasn’t even a crime in Washington,” said Pettigrew, sponsor of the bill. “A lot has happened since 1979. Education and awareness around domestic violence have come a long way since then. Our prevention and treatment services must be updated too.”
The work of domestic violence providers is grounded in decades of research. HB 1729 addresses the work of these community-based providers and brings current law up to date with a wide range of domestic violence treatment services.
“One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime,” said Pettigrew. “Offenders come from every socio economic, cultural and religious background. If we want to put a stop to domestic violence we must face this problem head-on and prevent it before it starts. This bill will provide much needed funding to make that possible.”
HB 1729 provides increased funding to domestic violence prevention services. One of the goals for providers is to work with young people and to teach them how to deal with control issues, how to manage jealousy, and how to have healthy relationships.
“We all have a role in ending and preventing domestic violence. We are thrilled the House of Representatives has taken a step,” said Grace Huang, Public Policy Coordinator for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “This bill addresses how services have evolved to meet the changing needs of domestic violence victims, and adds a critical prevention component for efforts to stop the violence before it starts.”
