House Unanimously Supports Cruz Bill to Protect Victims of Violence

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that modifies victim protective order requirements to increase protections for victims of violence unanimously passed the House on Tuesday with a vote of 94-0.

House Bill 1948, authored by Rep. José Cruz, D-OKC, expands the definition of family or household member used in the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act and the Domestic Abuse Reporting Act to include persons related by blood or marriage not living in the same household.

“The perpetrator doesn’t always live in the same household as the victim,” Cruz said. “This change increases a victim’s ability to protect themselves from family members who seek to harm them.”

Domestic violence hotlines receive nearly 21,000 calls each day, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Additionally, a 2018 Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board study showed that 82 Oklahomans died in a single year from intimate partner homicides.

“Domestic violence affects Oklahomans every day,” Cruz said. “With this unanimous vote, hopefully, we can help bring some peace of mind to victims suffering across the state.”

HB1948 is now eligible to be heard in the Senate.

Cruz’s office can be reached at (405)557-7397 or [email protected].