May 26, 2023
HARRISBURG, May 26, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) co-hosted a public hearing earlier this week in Harrisburg to discuss the effectiveness and accessibility of support services, preventive measures, and the socioeconomic impact that abuse has on individuals and families.
The hearing, held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, featured three panels of testimony from experts in public policy, law enforcement, and prevention of domestic violence.
“The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence stated that there were 3,209 unmet requests for service related to domestic violence in 2022. That is over 3,000 people dealing with a domestic violence incident last year that couldn’t be helped because we don’t adequately fund human services in Pennsylvania,” Muth said. “We must address these issues and ensure the programs that support domestic violence survivors have adequate state funding and resources.”
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking.
“Domestic violence is often an issue that’s overlooked, so I’m very pleased that we were able to hear directly from the folks on the ground supporting Pennsylvania’s survivors about what they need,” Schwank said. “The testimony made it clear that the legislature must step up and provide a consistent stream of financial support to adequately address domestic violence. As we head into budget season, it’s imperative that we take what we heard today and turn those words into action.”
Senator Muth and Senator Schwank have introduced Senate Bill 281 this session which would require that first time firearm owners receive training in areas of safe handling and storage of firearms, suicide awareness, child access awareness, domestic violence awareness, road rage awareness and prevention and safe interaction with law enforcement while carrying a firearm. Senator Schwank has also introduced Senate Bill 388 which would require schools to establish specific policies regarding dating violence, including reporting procedures for students, parents, legal guardians, or third parties; disciplinary procedures and penalties for students perpetrating dating violence against other students; and information regarding the Protection from Abuse law.
Senate Bill 281 remains in the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Bill 388 remains in the Senate Education Committee.
Participants in the hearing included Beth Garrigan, CEO, Safe Berks; Deanna Dyer, Policy Director, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV); Lt. Mary Gausman, Pennsylvania State Police; Danni Beinschrotch, Legal Services Manager, PCADV; Hon. Christopher Mallios Jr., Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County; Aishwarya Sinha, Prevention Specialist, PCADV; and Kiara Allison, PhD., Title IX Coordinator and Equal Opportunity Officer, Widener University.
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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March 21, 2018
Harrisburg, March 21, 2018– State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) voted in favor of a package of bipartisan bills pertaining to domestic violence. The bills are aimed to empower victims of domestic violence by helping them leave their abusers and controlling their abusers’ access to firearms.
Most notable in the package is SB 501, which requires domestic abusers to surrender their firearms to law enforcement or to a licensed firearms dealer. If enacted, Schwank said the law would protect the vulnerable.
“This bill would become law in 180 days after passage by the House and the signature of the Governor, and from the time it comes into enforcement it will definitely save lives of women and children at risk of domestic violence,” Schwank said. “This bill will go a long way in our fight to keep men, women and children safe from domestic violence.”
These are the bills which were voted by the Senate today:
- SB 313: Helps domestic violence victims remove abusers from a shared telephone plan.
- SB 449: Also known as Tierne’s Law, will allow Magisterial District Judges to use a risk assessment tool when determining bail in domestic violence cases.
- SB 500: Gives victims the opportunity to have law enforcement with them before or after a Protection-From-Abuse order is served.
- SB 501: Requires domestic abusers to surrender their firearms to law enforcement or a licensed firearms dealer.
- SB 502: Allows courts to more easily extend a PFA order when an abuser is released from custody.
- SB 919: Helps victims of domestic or sexual violence who live in public housing relocate to another unit.
- SB 1011: Also known as Marsy’s Law, amends the state Constitution to create a crime victims’ “Bill of Rights.”
Other than SB 449, which passed on concurrence, the bills now move to the House for consideration.
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March 13, 2015
HARRISBURG, March 13, 2015 – Underscoring her leadership and reputation as someone who fights for families, women and the less fortunate, Sen. Judy Schwank has been appointed to serve on a commission that’s charged with making sure fairness and equal justice are applied in Pennsylvania’s court system.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa appointed Schwank to a two-year term this week on the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness.
“We know the hand of justice is usually sensible and right. At times, though, it needs oversight and redirection,” Sen. Schwank said. “I thank Sen. Costa for giving me this opportunity to work with a well-established organization, and I am looking forward to lending my voice and ideas for the equal application of the law.”
The panel emerged when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the “Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System” to embark on a three-year study in 1999 gauging the effect of race and gender bias in the justice system.
Since its inception, the 24-member Interbranch Commission has earned a reputation as a model for the nation’s courts and it has:
- Devised a statewide policy for the Pennsylvania courts on Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity,
- Played a critical role in the passage of landmark legislation on the provision of interpreter services in the courts and administrative agencies, and
- Produced a key report on enhancing the safety of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Pennsylvania’s courthouses.
The Commission meets quarterly in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Harrisburg.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
