Bill Combatting Domestic Violence Passes, Heads to Governor
COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate this week passed legislation which establishes domestic violence fatality review boards throughout the state and is tailored to meet county and regional specific needs. The bi-partisan bill is sponsored by State Representatives Cindy Abrams (R- Harrison) and Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus).
Under the bill, domestic violence fatality review boards will be established to combat domestic violence fatalities by:
- Promoting continued communication between all groups, professions, agencies or entities engaged in the prevention and education of domestic violence.
- Maintaining databases of domestic violence fatalities to understand the causes and incidence of those deaths.
- Developing plans for implementing local service and program changes to the groups, professions, agencies or entities that serve local residents that might prevent deaths by domestic violence.
- Providing the Department of Health with aggregate data, trends, and patterns concerning domestic violence fatalities.
“This bill allows for a better, more thorough process of reviewing domestic violence in Ohio,” Abrams said. “Not only does this legislation aim to prevent further domestic violence fatalities.”
Similar to the existing Ohio Child Fatality Review Boards the bill will allow a board of county commissioners to appoint a health commissioner to establish their county’s domestic violence fatality review board. The review boards will consist of 11 members appointed by the county health commissioner that will be required to submit an annual report to the Ohio Department of Health by April 1 of each year that reflects information gathered from the previous calendar year, and makes recommendations for possible prevention methods.
“I am grateful to the Senate for their hard work and dedication in hopefully preventing future fatalities and prioritizing safety,” Abrams said.
House Bill 254 will now head to the Governor’s Desk for signature.