Schwank votes in favor of bills protecting victims of domestic violence

State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) voted in favor of a package of bipartisan bills pertaining to domestic violence. The bills are aimed to empower victims of domestic violence by helping them leave their abusers and controlling their abusers’ access to firearms.

Most notable in the package is SB 501, which requires domestic abusers to surrender their firearms to law enforcement or to a licensed firearms dealer. If enacted, Schwank said the law would protect the vulnerable.

“This bill would become law in 180 days after passage by the House and the signature of the Governor, and from the time it comes into enforcement it will definitely save lives of women and children at risk of domestic violence,” Schwank said. “This bill will go a long way in our fight to keep men, women and children safe from domestic violence.”

These are the bills which were voted by the Senate on March 21:

SB 313: Helps domestic violence victims remove abusers from a shared telephone plan.

SB 449: Also known as Tierne’s Law, will allow Magisterial District Judges to use a risk assessment tool when determining bail in domestic violence cases.

SB 500: Gives victims the opportunity to have law enforcement with them before or after a Protection-From-Abuse order is served.

SB 501: Requires domestic abusers to surrender their firearms to law enforcement or a licensed firearms dealer.

SB 502: Allows courts to more easily extend a PFA order when an abuser is released from custody.

SB 919: Helps victims of domestic or sexual violence who live in public housing relocate to another unit.

SB 1011: Also known as Marsy’s Law, amends the state Constitution to create a crime victims’ “Bill of Rights.”

Other than SB 449, which passed on concurrence, the bills now move to the House for consideration.