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State Senator Mike Fasano has announced that Governor Charlie Crist signed two key victims protection bills into law the first week in July. Fasano sponsored the legislation during the recently ended session of the Florida Legislature.
SB 994/HB 489 allows victims of sexual violence to take up to three days of leave (which can be paid or unpaid at the discretion of the employer) to deal with issues arising from the crime. This bill applies to victims working for employers with 50 or more employees. Victims may need to take leave to:
• Seek an injunction for protection.
• Obtain medical care or mental health counseling.
• Obtain services from a rape crisis center or other victim service organization.
• Make their home secure.
• Seek legal assistance for issues arising from the sexual violence.
“Victims of sexual violence deserve as much help as they may need to deal with the often life changing issues that can occur following an attack,” Senator Fasano said. “This legislation will go a long way towards helping victims begin to put their lives back together.”
Additionally the governor signed a related bill, SB 2574/HB 141, that will allow a public records exemption for personal identifying information of a victim of sexual violence. Without the exemption from Florida’s public records law the information submitted to a public agency by an agency employee seeking leave related to the violence would be available for public review.
Both bills became law immediately upon the governor’s action.
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