Governor Newsom Signs Senator Rubio’s Coercive Control Bill, Increasing Domestic Violence Protections

SACRAMENTO, CA – Gov. Gavin Newsom today passed a bill by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that would expand protections for domestic violence survivors by allowing them to use descriptions of psychologically damaging and abusive behavior, referred to as coercive control, as supporting evidence in California family court hearings and criminal trials.

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.

“I’m grateful to be at the forefront of such groundbreaking domestic violence policy, and I look forward to working with my partners and allies to spread coercive control legislation across the nation," Senator Rubio said. "I thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill. My hope is that it empowers victims to come forward, and it becomes something that our society understands and recognizes as domestic violence.”

“SB 1141 advances the rights of domestic violence victims under State law.  My office was proud to sponsor the legislation, and I thank the Governor for signing the bill,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. 

The bill was sponsored by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and supporters include: 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.

##

Media contact: edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov