CA Legislature Passes Senator Rubio’s Domestic Violence Bill Expanding Protections for Victims

SACRAMENTO, CA –The California Legislature today passed a bill by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that would expand protections for domestic violence survivors by allowing them to describe psychologically damaging and abusive behavior as supporting evidence in family court hearings and criminal trials. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

Senate Bill 1141 would add “coercive control” to the Family Code. This behavior of coercive control includes: Isolating the victim from friends, relatives, or other support; depriving the victim of basic necessities; controlling the victim’s communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources, and many other behaviors that cause severe emotional distress. 

“This “coercive control” bill is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that can transform how society views abusive relationships across the country,” Senator Rubio said. “Current laws in California do not reflect how domestic violence happens behind closed doors. An abuser uses physical violence and coercive control behavior to dominate the abused. I want to thank all my partners and collaborators who have strongly supported this bill. For all the survivors out there, we are listening, we hear you, and we remain committed to preventing and ending domestic violence.” 

SB 1141 is supported by Crime Victims United of California, Elizabeth House, FreeFrom, Pathways for Victims of Domestic Violence, Peace Over Violence, StrengthUnited, and the YWCA of San Gabriel Valley, and sponsored by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

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