New York City Council Header
File #: Int 1795-2019    Version: * Name: Expanding protections for victims of domestic violence to include economic abuse.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Civil and Human Rights
On agenda: 11/14/2019
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding protections for victims of domestic violence to include economic abuse
Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Farah N. Louis, Diana Ayala , Ben Kallos, Donovan J. Richards, Chaim M. Deutsch, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Laurie A. Cumbo, Keith Powers , Carlos Menchaca, Barry S. Grodenchik, Margaret S. Chin, Helen K. Rosenthal, Alicka Ampry-Samuel , Robert F. Holden, Brad S. Lander, Inez D. Barron
Council Member Sponsors: 17
Summary: This bill would amend the definition of “victim of domestic violence” under the New York City Human Rights Law (HRL) to recognize economic oppression as a form of domestic violence and extend existing HRL protections for victims of domestic violence to those who are subjected to economic oppression. “Economic oppression” occurs when a person is forced or coerced to enter into certain financial arrangements or take on debt against their will by a partner. Economic oppression also occurs when a person assumes the identity of their partner to enter into financial arrangements or take on debt.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1795, 2. Int. No. 1795, 3. November 14, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 11-14-19, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - November 14, 2019

Int. No. 1795

 

By Council Members Brannan, Louis, Ayala, Kallos, Richards, Deutsch, Cornegy, Cumbo, Powers, Menchaca, Grodenchik, Chin, Rosenthal, Ampry-Samuel, Holden, Lander and Barron

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding protections for victims of domestic violence to include economic abuse

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. The definition of “victim of domestic violence” in section 8-102 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law 63 of 2018, is amended to read as follows:

Victim of domestic violence.  The term "victim of domestic violence" means:

1. A[a] person who has been subjected to acts or threats of violence, not including acts of self-defense, committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim, by a person who is or has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, or by a person who is or has continually or at regular intervals lived in the same household as the victim; or 

2. A person who has been subjected to acts or threats of economic oppression, committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim, a person who is or has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, or a person who is or has continually or at regular intervals lived in the same household as the victim. Economic oppression includes but is not limited to:

(a) Applying for a credit card, obtaining or refinancing a loan, obtaining or refinancing a mortgage, falsifying financial documents, or opening a financial account in the victim’s name without the victim’s consent; or

(b) The use of physical force or coercion to compel a victim to apply for a credit card, obtain or refinance a loan, obtain or refinance a mortgage, sign or authenticate a financial document, or open a financial account.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

MJT/AW

LS #9948

4/3/2019