York County News

The House Labor and Industry Committee has moved forward with legislation aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence. This legislation, introduced by the committee's chairmen, Representatives Seth Grove (R-Dover) and Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia), aims to expedite unemployment benefits for those affected by domestic violence.

Under the current law, individuals who are compelled to leave their jobs due to domestic violence are eligible for unemployment compensation, but only after a prolonged adjudication process. House Bill 274 seeks to establish an "express lane" for such claims, allowing claimants who provide the necessary documentation of a domestic violence situation to be eligible for unemployment benefits more swiftly, provided they meet other qualifications.

Representative Seth Grove commented, "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 added, "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 bill also states that employers will receive automatic relief from charges for these claims. The legislation now moves to the full House for further deliberation.