Committee gives bipartisan support to Sen. Deschambault bill to help prevent domestic violence in Maine

AUGUSTA — On Monday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Susan Deschambault, D-Biddeford, to provide funding to domestic violence prevention services was approved by the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. LD 1491, “An Act To Ensure Access to and Availability of Violence Intervention Services To Reduce Domestic Violence in Maine,” passed in committee by a vote of 11 to 1, with one member absent.

“It’s important that we do everything we can to prevent domestic violence in Maine,” said Sen. Deschambault. “We can do this by investing in the programs and services that support survivors and hold offenders accountable. LD 1491 will provide the funding we need to continue these efforts and to keep more Maine families safe. I am glad the committee has shown such overwhelming support for this issue.”

LD 1491 allocates $575,000 in funding to the Office of Victim Services in the Department of Corrections over the next two fiscal years to provide violence intervention services in Maine.

Karen Wyman, the Violence Prevention and Intervention Coordinator at the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, testified in support of the bill:

“This bill asks you to continue and expand the modest funding that has had significant positive impact and represents the only funding available in Maine to sustain intervention programming for those who have perpetrated domestic abuse and violence. This funding increases equity of access to the most effective and appropriate response to crimes of domestic abuse and violence.”

LD 1491 now faces votes in the Senate and House.

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