S5915

The New York State Senate passed S5915, sponsored by Sen. Gonzalez, requiring the Office of Prevention of Domestic Violence to distribute educational materials on economic abuse at shelters, social services offices, police departments, and childcare facilities. The bill passed on a 57-0 roll call vote. Sen. Gonzalez argued the legislation is critical for supporting domestic violence survivors, noting that between 94 and 99 percent of such survivors experience economic abuse—a form of control where victims lack access to their own income, spending, or bank accounts. She cited the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in highlighting economic abuse as the leading reason victims stay with or return to abusers. The bill builds on New York City's expansion of domestic violence definitions to include economic abuse, which made city-level protections and programs available to survivors. However, Gonzalez noted a knowledge gap prevents many survivors from accessing these resources. S5915 addresses that gap by requiring distribution of materials identifying and preventing economic abuse, along with information on available resources, at locations where vulnerable populations frequently interact with government services.