Bill establishing protections for domestic violence victims advances

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Victims of dating and domestic violence could soon have more tools to reach out for help after the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee unanimously passed a measure.

Boynton Beach Democratic Sen. Lori Berman presented the bill (SB 240) known as the “HAVEN Act.” She explained that the legislation was designed to help victims of violence by establishing an app that allows them to reach law enforcement without the perpetrator knowing.

“This bill basically does two things. The first thing is it calls for a feasibility study which would have a web-based 911 system,” Berman said. “We would give a victim a unique telephone number that they could use if they were in a truly dangerous situation and that it would be like a 911 call, and the police would have geolocating information and they could come immediately and help that person.”

Berman said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has already noted that the 911-app would be feasible to implement.

“It promises quicker response in real time and the real benefit is you don’t have to call 911, so your perpetrator doesn’t realize exactly what’s going on at the time,” Berman said. “We have spoken to FDLE, we have spoken to technical people. They said it is possible, but we are doing it as a feasibility study so that we can have everything in place to move forward with it.”

The legislation would also update the definition of domestic and dating violence, giving both the same meaning to enable victims in any situation to get the resources they need.

“The second part of the bill updates the definition relating to domestic and dating violence and makes them congruent so that people in dating violence situations can take advantage of whatever is available for people in domestic violence situations,” Berman said. “A particular note is they would be able to take advantage of the Attorney General program, which allows you to apply to have your address be confidential.”

Alexandra Rothman a student at Florida State University and intern at the State Attorney’s Office in the Victims and Witness Unit works to support victims of crimes, such as battery, assault, domestic violence, child abuse and homicide.

“I am standing before you today, asking and urging you to vote ‘yes’ on SB 240. In 2023 and 2024, our circuit alone saw 670 domestic violence cases filed,” Rothman said.

“According to the crime report, however, there are 44% of domestic violence cases that go unreported. Every day, I personally come face to face with victims who have been brutally attacked, including being strangled until unconscious, beat with an open fist while pregnant, pushed down, kicked in the stomach, and being threatened with murder if they attempt to escape.”

Rothman noted that access to these safety measures could mean the difference between surviving or losing a life.

“Victims are in fear for their life, that their address on public records will lead their abuser straight to them. Access to immediate safety measures can mean the difference between life and death. I ask you to act with compassion, vote with mercy, and invest in victim protection. This is a bipartisan opportunity to reach across the aisle because domestic violence is neither red, nor blue.

Amy Trask, a survivor of domestic violence, detailed the statistics surrounding dating and domestic violence in Florida that touch the lives of tens of thousands of people.

“This legislation is a vital step forward, addressing the pervasive and devastating issue of dating and domestic violence,” Trask said. “It’s a call to action to ensure the victims live to become survivors, to ensure that equal access to the resources and protections they need to rebuild their lives. One in 3 women and 1 in 4 men are victims of violence, 20% of homicide victims are attributed to this.”

Trask explained that domestic and dating violence is a leading cause of death for pregnant women, and according to the FDLE’s uniform crime report in the most recently reported year, Florida saw over 106,615 cases. However, only about 50% of these cases are actually brought forward.

“These numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re lives that have been forever changed,” Trask said. “These statistics, these lives, are a stark reminder of the urgency of our mission.”

Trask said the legislation would close loopholes so that perpetrators are forced to take responsibility for their actions.

“The HAVEN Act addresses a critical gap in our current system by making dating and domestic violence statutorily congruent,” Trask said. “This change, by making them weigh the same, ensures that violent offenders cannot evade responsibility and cannot find refuge from the loopholes in our laws.”

The bill will now move to its last committee stop with the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee.