More good news on protecting the address whereabouts of victims.
The Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier reported on March 21, 2006, that the Iowa Senate had passed a bill which would allow victims to remove their names from county real estate records and voter registration rolls. This procedure would be open to people who are protected by a restraining order or can show other evidence that their life is in danger.
Senator Frank Wood, one of the bill's sponsors, said, "This bill would eliminate an abuser from sitting in their home and stalking his victim with his computer." The bill was written in response to rising concerns that the Internet is making it difficult for victims of domestic violence to escape their abusers. The bill now heads to the Iowa House.
The Kansas City Star reported on March 14, 2006, that Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh endorsed a bill that would allow domestic violence victims to protect themselves by using his office as a mail address. State officials would then forward mail to its intended recipient.
This proposed law was to have its first hearing March 14th in the Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee. The bill is also backed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations and the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
And then there's Minnesota, where Minneapolis/St. Paul television station WCCO-TV reported on April 5, 2006, that St. Paul Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer is proposing the same type of program for address protection for victims as we've seen Maryland and the above quoted states putting into action.
Kiffmeyer's proposal comes too late in the legislative session to move as a separate bill, but she stated that it will be attached to a larger public safety spending bill.
Kiffmeyer stated that this type of address protection program is already in effect in 18 states.
Only 32 states to go -- is there a program like this in your state?
Comments