Sen. Bailey bill to protect domestic violence survivors from discrimination heads to governor’s desk

Posted: July 06, 2021 | Senator Bailey

AUGUSTA – On Friday, July 2, the Maine Senate unanimously voted to enact and fund a bill from Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco that would protect survivors of domestic violence from discrimination. LD 1294, “An Act To Prevent Discrimination against Domestic Violence Victims,” would amend the Maine Human Rights Act to strengthen protections against discrimination in employment and housing against a person who has sought and received an order of protection.

“Domestic violence survivors who take the brave step of seeking an order of protection for themselves should not also have to face potential repercussions at work or where they live for seeking the assistance of the law,” said Sen. Bailey. “This bill seeks to ensure that domestic violence survivors who accept a protection from abuse order are not discriminated against in the areas of employment and housing.”

LD 1294 allocate $118,586 to fund housing and employment discrimination prevention, including $58,815 for a part-time Maine Human Rights Investigator position.

Michael Kebede, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, testified in support of the bill at the public hearing:

“Survivors of domestic and sexual violence often face housing and employment discrimination because of violence committed against them. For example, some landlords have chosen to evict survivors based on noise or property damage caused by the person who abused the survivor, even when the abuser did not live in the home. Some employers have fired victims because they needed to take time off to go to court to get an order of protection.”

LD 1294 now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.

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