Delnicki Working to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence

HARTFORD- State Rep. Tom Delnicki (R-14) strongly supported a proposal in the Banking Committee which provides ends to practice of coerced debt, a form of economic abuse that acts as a powerful control tactic to keep victims of domestic violence tied to their abuser.

The legislation, Senate Bill 123, An Act Concerning Coerced Debt, would (1) provide that no individual shall cause another individual to incur a coerced debt, and (2) establish procedures to (A) review documentation to determine whether debt is coerced debt, and (B) bring an action to establish whether debt is coerced debt.

Delnicki, who is a co-sponsored the legislation, mentioned how coerced debt is non-consensual credit-related transactions that occur in relationships involving coercive control.

“This bill will significantly diminish the ability of abusers to inflict financial harm,” said Rep. Delnicki. “We have proposed specific steps that will hold the true perpetrators of coercion accountable and protect the vulnerable from wrongdoers who are presently empowered to exert extraordinary undue influence on shelter, sustenance, education and healthcare.”

Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) supported and testified in favor of the bill during the public hearing. In testimony the CCADV, most abusive relationships involve some form of economic abuse, with coerced debt being one of the possible tactics to gain and maintain control. Money is a powerful tool that many abusers use to keep their victims dependent upon them and unable to leave.

The bill passed favorable out of the Banking Committee and now heads to the State Senate for further debate.