Breaking Kentucky News: State House Votes Unanimously To Pass SB1, “Amanda’s Bill”; Senate To Pass Measure.

State House unanimously votes for
“Amanda’s Bill”; it now heads to Senate

Frankfort – “Amanda’s Bill,” Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo’s legislation that would use real-time monitoring when necessary to ensure domestic violence orders are enforced, unanimously passed the House of Representatives today.
“This bill is named for Amanda Ross, who was tragically killed in September, but it could be named for dozens of others across the Commonwealth who suffered the same fate as a result of domestic violence,” Speaker Stumbo said. “This bill will give victims what I call a ‘fighting chance,’ by letting them know when an offender is approaching.”
He noted that more than a dozen other states already have something similar in place, and “to our knowledge not one domestic-violence victim has been killed where monitoring was used.”
House Bill 1 would let judges require real-time electronic monitoring when deemed necessary, at a cost estimated between $7 and $10 a day. At no expense to them, counties could take on the responsibility of enforcing it themselves, or by partnering with other local governments.
Based on experiences in other states, the bill would only apply in less than 20 percent of cases. “Research shows that most victims feel that a domestic violence order is enough protection, but in those situations where violence is likely, we need to give them a little help,” Speaker Stumbo said. “My bill would do that.”
He said his goal is for the legislation to become a model for the nation. “I think we have taken an approach that is fair to everyone involved,” he said. “We know the technology works, we know that it saves lives. The sooner this can be signed into law, the sooner it can be put to use.”
The legislation will now be considered by the state Senate.