Ohio Senate expected to pass bipartisan bill protecting victims of dating violence

The Ohio Senate is expected to pass state Rep. Emilia Sykes’ (D-Akron) House Bill (HB) 1 today, bipartisan legislation to modernize Ohio’s domestic violence laws. Co-authored with state Rep. Nathan Manning (R-N. Ridgeville), HB 1 will allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders against their attacker, a protection currently allowed in every state except Ohio and Georgia.

“I am pleased that the Senate will take action today to protect people who are victims of dating violence,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, Ohio is one of the last states to recognize dating relationships when requesting a protection order. Thankfully it is never too late to save a life.”*

The National Dating Violence Hotline defines intimate partner violence, which includes dating violence, as a repetitive pattern of behaviors – including physical or sexual violence, threats, intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation – used to maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Current Ohio law only recognizes domestic violence as violence occurring between spouses, those cohabiting, persons who have a child in common, or family members. The senate amendments add dating relationships to the existing domestic violence statute, giving victims rights including information from the attorney general’s office and access to battered women’s shelters.

The House will likely approve Senate changes to the bill in the coming weeks. The legislation then will head to the Gov. Kasich’s desk for his anticipated signature.