(WAVE/WKYT) – In Kentucky’s capital, multiple bills are being discussed to address domestic violence.
One of them, House Bill 773, would create a repeat domestic violence offender registry.
While the goal is to keep Kentuckians safe, many advocacy groups stop short of supporting the bill as written.
“The ripple effect, I think, is just what we’re concerned about,” ZeroV CEO Tisha Pletcher said.
Pletcher supports efforts in the statehouse to protect survivors, but feels the unintended consequences of passing HB 773.
It does not account for one-time offenders, no matter how severe the offense.
In many cases, advocates say victims don’t come forward at all.
“It takes people, on average, eight or nine times before they might leave someone for good,” Pletcher said. “It’s not an easy process.”
Efforts like an online registry, increased penalties, and other proposed protections can not replace safety planning.
The fear that creates leaves some repeat abusers off the state’s radar altogether.
“That can create a false sense of security, not only for our survivors, but for our communities,” Pletcher said.
Publicly naming repeat offenders could also pose a risk to survivors’ identities and privacy, potentially adding another reason someone who needs help might not try to get it.
“That’s concerning for some of our survivors as well,” Pletcher said. “They might think that could impact, whether it’s their occupation, their work, their housing. And that might create a chilling effect for people reaching out for help.”
In a March 4 Facebook Post, Bill sponsor Representative Kim Holloway, R–Kenton, wrote in part: “I have spoken to numerous survivors over the past few months who would like to see a registry in Kentucky… Ultimately, it is our duty as legislators to respond to the voices of those who are depending on us to address the concerns that matter to them the most.”
Holloway addressed concerns like ZeroV’s, calling them “worthy of continued conversation.”
Pletcher hopes they have those conversations as they continue to work to protect survivors and their families.
“We’d really love to be able to slow this down and to take some time to ask the questions, to research registries, to talk to more survivors across the whole Commonwealth,” she said.
If passed, Rep. Holloway said the bill would be called ‘Stephanie’s Law,’ named after a Paducah woman killed by a former partner back in December.
Combatting domestic violence through policy
Some other bills are also making their way through the statehouse, including House Bill 611 that would improve domestic violence data collection in Kentucky.
“Data just leads to better policy,” sponsor Representative Stephanie Dietz said. “The more information we have and making sure that the right people get that information allows us to know what kind of policy that we really need.”
The bill updates how data on abusers and survivors is collected, shared, and utilized. It also includes a 10-year-IPO provision for those who are involved in domestic violence.
Representative Dietz says domestic violence bills like hers, even if they are not passed, help keep the conversation about preventing domestic violence going.
“Anytime that we pass legislation dealing with domestic violence, it still highlights that there is a need for good policy in Kentucky,” she said. “It also allows the victims to know that we’re listening and that we care and that we’re here and we want to hear more of their stories so that we know how to attack this from a policy piece.”
House Bill 418 would give custody protections to domestic violence survivors.
It states that if the court finds a parent in a custody case has committed domestic violence or abuse, it can’t cut parenting time or remove custody from the non-abusive parent.
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, you can call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.