It took two years of persistence on her part, but State Senator Betti Sheldon succeeded in her quest to have the Legislature pass a bill that will greatly benefit victims of domestic violence in our state.

Thanks to the bill sponsored by Sheldon, a domestic violence victim who left her (or his) job to be safe can collect unemployment benefits.

It is often vital for victims of abuse to leave their jobs because three out of four women who are abused by their spouses at home are also harassed at work, either over the phone or in person, according to a recent federal study.

Unfortunately, abuse doesn’t always stop with harassment. Between 1992 and 1995, 126 Americans were murdered on the job by a former or current partner.

Under the new state law, victims who receive unemployment benefits will have additional time to address the physical, psychological, legal and other effects of domestic violence or stalking before they must return to work.

“This law will make a critical difference in the lives of women and their children who are struggling to put domestic violence behind them,” Sheldon said. “No woman should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship just to put food on the table and take care of the kids…Giving women the ability to leave their abusers is an essential part of the equation.”

This week Sheldon, who sponsored the bill in the Senate and Rep. Lynn Kessler, Hoquiam, sponsor of the House version of the bill, were honored for her efforts by the Northwest Women’s Law Shelter.

We also salute Sheldon and Kessler for their bill which can make a world of difference for victims of domestic violence.