A bill authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) that would modernize domestic violence services is headed to the Governor’s desk for a signature, according to a press release.
AB 689 will allow for survivors of domestic violence to seek help via text and other computer-based technologies.
“The ability to access domestic violence hotline services is as serious as life or death,” Petrie-Norris said in a press release. “These additional tools and technologies will give survivors more ways to get help when they desperately need it.”
Before the pandemic, domestic violence hotlines received approximately 13 calls a minute. The National Domestic Violence Hotline saw a 9% increase in calls, texts, and chats—indicating a clear uptick in need over the last 19 months.
Under the current state law, domestic violence centers are under a limited definition of phone-based hotlines that do not include chat and text. This law also inhibits centers from receiving funding to increase their services and from collecting accurate data about domestic abuse.
 that would modernize domestic violence services is headed to the Governor’s desk.){kind=link}