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Whitmer signs bill that protects domestic violence victims

“Domestic violence is an epidemic that affects thousands of people across Michigan every day.”
Credit: AP
FILE - In this June 26, 2019 file photo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks about new lead testing rules for drinking water at the Romney Building in Lansing, Mich. Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders announced Monday, Sept. 9 that they will work to enact a state budget without including a long-term funding plan to fix Michigan’s deteriorating roads. The agreement should forestall the possibility of an Oct. 1 partial government shutdown. But it also strips the first-year governor of leverage as she seeks a nearly $2 billion influx of new spending on road and bridge construction in a state that ranks second to last nationally in per-capita road spending. (AP Photo/David Eggert, File)

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill Friday to protect victims of domestic violence. 

Senate Bill 257 was introduced by Michigan Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) in April. It helps protect victims of domestic violence by allowing courts to require deferred domestic violence charges to count as prior convictions in later cases. 

The new law also allows courts to order certain domestic violence offenders to participate in treatment programs. 

“Domestic violence is an epidemic that affects thousands of people across Michigan every day,” said Whitmer. “We have a duty to listen and respond to the needs of all Michiganders. That is why I am proud to sign this bill which helps protect victims of domestic violence and moves us a step closer to ending domestic violence in our state.”  

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