This hearing will examine economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse. It will further identify challenges facing domestic violence victims who have suffered economic abuse and will consider possible solutions to alleviate these challenges to help ensure that victims of domestic violence are adequately served throughout the state. This hearing will also examine outreach efforts and services that are available to victims of domestic violence who suffer economic abuse, and will identify any gaps or roadblocks that may exist in regard to offering and accessing such services.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which participants may direct their comments.

Persons wishing to participate at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. In order to further publicize this hearing, please inform interested parties and organizations of this upcoming hearing discussion.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Joseph R. Lentol
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Codes

Helene E. Weinstein
Member of Assembly
Chairwoman
Committee on Judiciary

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SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH PARTICIPANTS MAY DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS:

1. What are the various forms of economic abuse experienced by domestic violence victims, and how prevalent are they?
2. Describe how economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse may be used against persons of all socio-economic status?
3. What are the short-term and long-term effects of economic abuse on domestic violence victims with regard to credit, housing, education and other areas? How can these effects be mitigated and addressed?
4. Describe individual development accounts. Are such accounts an effective tool to help survivors gain independence? If so, how?
5. Do sufficient legal and other services exist to assist domestic violence victims who have suffered economic abuse? If not, what additional resources are necessary to adequately meet the needs of these victims?
6. How has state allocation of funding, including funding for civil legal services and supplemental TANF funding, been helpful in addressing domestic violence and the economic consequences of domestic violence. What additional funding, if any, is necessary?
7. How are the courts taking the economic consequences of domestic violence into consideration in family offense cases, and family and matrimonial cases involving child support, custody, visitation, maintenance and equitable distribution?
8. What can the state do to encourage partnerships between organizations to better address the needs of victims of domestic violence that have experienced economic abuse?
9. Has the enactment of recent legislation, including the prohibition of discrimination based on victim status in employment, the availability of early lease termination, the temporary maintenance law, and the exempt income protection act, been helpful in addressing economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse?
10. What additional legislative steps can be taken to strengthen our laws to better address the problem of economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse?

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Persons wishing to present comments at the public hearing examining the problem of economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse, and the adequacy of state law and services available to victims of domestic violence are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: