HAVEN Act signed, new resources to victims of domestic and dating violence available

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCJB) - Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill aiming to bring new resources to victims of domestic and dating violence.

Helping Abuse Victims Escape Now, or the ‘HAVEN’ Act creates protections for victims of abuse and creates a web-based alert system which allows victims to silently contact law enforcement.

The HAVEN Act was written by House District 22 Candidate and domestic violence survivor Amy Trask.

“Statistically, the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when you try and leave,” said Trask. “I wanted to be able to address that specific mechanism of finding a way for them to escape.”

It also aligns protections for victims of dating violence with domestic violence statutes.

“That way, dating and domestic violence survivors will be able to have the same proactive and reactive resources regardless of socioeconomic status and regardless of gender” said Trask.

The HAVEN Act will become law on July 1st.

A feasibility study for the web-based alert system is due in January.

The bill was authored by Trask but filed by Republican Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman from Palm Beach and Senator Tracie Davis from Duval County.

It passed with bi partisan unanimous support in the house and senate.

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