Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
2010 Public Policy Priorities

1. Support an increase of the marriage license fee to provide $600,000 in funding for children and youth services related to witnessing or experiencing sexual or domestic violence.

Rationale: Children and youth exposed to or directly experiencing sexual or domestic violence are at great risk of depression, anger, difficulties in school, withdrawal, problems sleeping, substance use/abuse, and difficulty developing or maintaining relationships. There is currently no funding dedicated to serving these children and youth who access sexual and domestic violence agencies. This new funding will provide age-appropriate services and prevention programming for children and youth. The Action Alliance proposes to increase the marriage license fee to $45 from $30, with $10 going to the Virginia Department of Social Services for children and youth services and the remaining $5 to the Virginia General Fund. This will bring Virginia’s marriage license fee more in line with other states. This will NOT be an extra burden on the already strapped General Funds.

2. Support legislation that allows immigrants to report crimes as victims or witnesses without fear of being asked about their immigration status.

Rationale: These protections will enhances public safety by assuring victims and witnesses of crime that they will not face immigration inquiries if they come forward to cooperate with law enforcement. Without such protections, victims and witnesses of sexual and domestic violence will not report crimes due to fear of deportation or other consequences related to their immigration status.

3. Support legislation that adds companion animals to the parties that can be protected under family abuse protective orders.

Rationale: Victims and their children may be reluctant to leave pets behind when fleeing from violent homes. Batterers often abuse pets as a way to control and intimidate their victims. This legislation, if it mirrors last year’s proposal, will not include livestock. It will protect pets only when they are harmed with the intent to threaten, coerce, intimidate or harm the protective order petitioner or her family or household members

Five Ways You Can Help:

1. Contact your legislators and ask for their support for the 2010 Policy priorities. Go to the Virginia General Assembly Homepage (legis.state.va.us) and click on “Who’s my Legislator?.
2. Talk with your family and friends and encourage them to contact their legislators for support.
3. Sign up for the Action Alliance Public Policy listserv so you can get legislative alerts and updates. Email sruble@vsdvalliance.org to be added.
4. Contact your local Sexual Assault Crisis Center or Domestic Violence Program and ask how you can get involved. Click here to locate your local center or program..
5. Attend the Action Alliance Legislative Advocacy Day on January 27, 2010. Watch the Action Alliance website for more details.