Bill aims to provide unemployment benefits to domestic violence survivors in Florida

Other states have similar protections

(Associated Press)

MIAMI, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would deem victims of domestic violence eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits.

Many workers across the U.S. are forced to quit their job due to domestic violence safety concerns. Survivors of domestic violence qualify for unemployment benefits in 41 states. But no protections have been established for victims in Florida, where instances have hovered well above 100,000 reported cases per year since 1996.

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The bill, proposed by Democratic lawmakers Rep. Dotie Joseph of Miami and Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville, requires victims to prove that they voluntarily left their job as a direct result of domestic violence.

The law aims to have a limited impact on private business owners. Funds to pay for the measure would pool from taxes employers pay per employee.


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