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Democrats in the Michigan House are using October, which is domestic violence awareness month, to draw attention to a handful of domestic violence bills they want to gain more traction.
State Representative Winnie Brinks says the legislation isn’t getting caught up in party politics, it just isn’t moving.
The bills, which await hearings in a pair of House committees, would provide work and unemployment protections for domestic violence victims.
One would allow someone to use sick time to deal with a stalker.
Another would prohibit a landlord from refusing to rent to someone who has been a victim of domestic violence.
A third bill would extend unemployment benefits to someone who had to leave a job and move to a new city because they were being abused.
Two of the three bills are in State Representative Joe Graves’ committee.
Graves says he sits down each week with staff to look over legislation before the committee and those measures are still being reviewed.
