Date:  August 14, 2013
For Immediate Release

Contact: Andrew DeBlock
andrew.deblock@cwlc.org

LOS ANGELES – Today, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) joined the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence in support of Assembly Bill 139 and Assembly Bill 81.  Both bills have passed through the California State Legislature and moved to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk for his signature.

“We urge Governor Brown to sign AB 139 and AB 81 to bolster the resources available to domestic violence survivors in California,” said Interim Executive Director Betsy Butler.  “AB 139 ensures that the fees collected from the perpetrators of domestic violence will directly support survivors.  AB 81 restores mandates requiring law enforcement officials maintain complete records of domestic violence protective orders and standards for response to domestic violence calls.  We hope Governor Brown will sign both bills,” said Butler.

A recently published state audit requested by former Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma showed that fee collection and distribution is inconsistent from county to county.  This has detrimentally impacted many local shelters established for survivors of domestic violence because shelters depend on these fees for a significant portion of their funding.   AB 139 would establish a $500 administrative fee to be assessed on every person who is granted probation for a domestic violence related crime and is able to pay.  This clarification will ensure judges apply the fee consistently across California.

AB 81 addresses the need to better understand how often and where domestic violence is perpetrated in California.  Consistent reporting of basic information related to domestic violence is crucial to establishing a valid statewide data set.  This data helps ensure that law enforcement and policy makers are able to effectively address and root out the causes of domestic violence as well as support survivors.  AB 81 will ensure that these stakeholders have the information they need.

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The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) works to ensure, through systemic change, that life opportunities for women and girls are free from unjust social, economic and political constraints.

Founded in 1989, the CWLC focuses on the following issue areas: gender discrimination, women’s health, violence against women, reproductive justice and the unique concerns of women veterans.

For more information please visit www.cwlc.org and follow CWLC on twitter @CWLC_la .