State Rep. Seth Grove | Pennsylvania 196th Legislative District
State Rep. Seth Grove | Pennsylvania 196th Legislative District
The House Labor and Industry Committee has moved forward with legislation aimed at aiding victims of domestic violence. The bill, proposed by Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover) and Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia), seeks to expedite unemployment benefits for individuals who are forced to leave their jobs due to domestic violence.
Under current regulations, those who resign from their positions because of domestic violence can apply for unemployment compensation, but only after a lengthy adjudication process. House Bill 274 proposes an "express lane" for claims when the claimant provides acceptable documentation of their situation. If they meet all other qualifications, these individuals would be eligible to receive benefits.
Rep. Seth Grove emphasized the importance of this measure: “At no fault of their own, some domestic violence victims are forced to quit their jobs because their abuser knows where they work and could further be harmed,” he stated. “Though fairly rare, a person forced to stop working because of a terrible situation shouldn’t continue to face the burden of worrying how to feed his or her family.”
The proposed legislation also ensures that employers will automatically receive relief from charges associated with these claims. The bill is now set to be considered by the full House.
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