Courts would raise domestic violence penalties as workers get more leave

A court would order a person found to have committed domestic violence to pay a civil penalty of $100 to $1,000. This applies after a court finds at a final hearing that a person committed domestic violence. The court must consider the nature and degree of injury suffered by the victim. The court may waive the penalty for extreme financial hardship. The change would take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.

Eligible employees could take up to 45 days of unpaid leave in a 12-month period after domestic violence or a sexually violent offense. The text covers employees who were victims and employees whose listed family members or other covered relations were victims; some relationship wording is unclear in this printing. Employees may take leave all at once or in periods of at least one day for care, victim services, counseling, safety planning or relocation, legal help, or court proceedings related to the incident. If the need is foreseeable, employees must give written notice as far ahead as is reasonable and practical, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance prevents it. An employer may require documentation. Employees may choose to use available paid leave or family temporary disability benefits during the leave period. Leave must be used within the 12 months after an incident. Each incident can qualify if the employee has not used all 45 days for that 12-month period; the act would take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.