Legislature’s action could ease escapes from domestic violence, governor’s action awaited

      One of the bills on the desk of Governor Mike Parson (R) would make it easier for people to escape domestic abuse, if it becomes law.

      A provision in Senate Bill 28 would waive the fee for a copy of a birth certificate when it is requested by a victim of domestic violence. 

      It has been proposed for several years by Representative Chris Dinkins (R-Lesterville), who explained to her colleagues that when a person escapes domestic violence, they often have to leave things behind.  That often includes vital documents.

      “It is very difficult to leave a situation and when you’ve got kids that you’re trying to support and you’re thinking, ‘How am I going to do this now, how am I going to get a job, how am I going to keep moving on and going forward,’ and if they don’t have those documents then they start thinking, ‘I’m not going to be able to get a job, I’m going to have to go back,’” said Dinkins. 

      “Once they’ve made the decision to leave we [as a state] need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help them be successful in moving forward.”

      Matthew Huffman is the Chief Public Affairs Officer with the Missouri Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence.  He said making a decision to leave can be dangerous, frightening, and difficult, and this legislation would help to keep victims from having to go back.

      “Whenever a survivor makes the step to leave that can be months, years of safety planning, and we also know that right after someone decides to leave that abusive relationship, that can be one of the most dangerous times for that individual, and so being able to make it out of a dangerous situation and accessing safety, you might not remember to get those vital records that you need.  You might not have the ability or the access to get those vital records.”

      “Birth certificates are crucial in the individual being able to start their life over again, be able to get out on their own, get away from the person who is abusing them, and often [abusers] hold [victims] captive by keeping their birth certificate and other important documents from them so that they can’t start over again,” said Dinkins.  “If you want to get a job, if you want to open up a bank account, you’ve got to have forms of identification, and in order to get a new driver’s license you’re going to have to have a birth certificate.  In order to get a new social security card, you’re going to have to have a birth certificate; enrolling kids in school, you’re going to have to have a birth certificate, so all these things are very important.”

      She adds that victims escaping abuse often have little if any money and that’s why the fee that is normally charged for certificates is an issue.     

      “Fifteen dollars may not seem like much to you or me but someone who escapes in the middle of the night … they leave with the clothes on their back and that’s that … so it’s a very important step in saving these peoples’ lives.”

      After seeing this proposal fall short in several past legislative sessions, Huffman is hopeful that Governor Parson will sign it into law.

      “If, as a state, we can show we really care about domestic violence survivors and we have the ability to provide you a free birth certificate to help you get yourself on a path to self-efficiency and sustainability, I think that that is an incredible thing that the State of Missouri can offer to survivors.”

      Dinkins agrees, and adds that just as this proposal was brought to her by a shelter in her district, she encourages advocates to bring her more ideas.  She said in her time as a teacher she knew several individuals who were involved in domestic abuse situations, and that makes these issues personal.

      “I would be happy to do what I can to move forward any piece of legislation that can help these victims.”

The bill would allow a survivor to get one birth certificate free, one time. It requires a signed statement from an advocate, attorney, or provider of healthcare or mental healthcare.

Governor Parson could sign that bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his action. If it becomes law, this provision would become effective on August 28.