SAFE Act

Bill: 109-s-1796
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2005-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Aid to dependent children
Arts, Culture, Religion
Assault
Cash welfare block grants
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Confidential communications
Congress
Congressional agencies
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against women
Damages
Department of Labor
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Employee rights
Employee training
Employers' liability
Evidence (Law)
Families
Family violence
Federal employees
Federal libraries
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Health
Health insurance
Health insurance continuation
Injunctions
Labor unions
Law
Leave of absence
Legal fees
Library of Congress
Life insurance
Mental health services
Nonprofit organizations
Occupational health and safety
Office of Personnel Management
Prosecution
Punitive damages
Rape
Restrictive trade practices
Sex crimes
Sick leave
Social Welfare
Social work
Stalking
Unemployment insurance
Victims of crimes
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-29
text: 
Security and Financial Empowerment Act - SAFE Act - Sets forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic or sexual violence. Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave. 

Authorizes state use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for emergency leave precipitated by domestic or sexual violence . 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to approval of state unemployment compensation laws to prohibit denial of compensation where an individual is separated from employment owing to circumstances resulting from the individual's experience of domestic or sexual violence. Amends the Social Security Act to include training with respect to clients in such violent circumstances for: (1) unemployment compensation personnel; and (2) TANF personnel. Authorizes grants for a model training program. 
Victims' Employment Sustainability Act - Prohibits certain discriminatory employer practices relating to terms or conditions of employment in connection with victims of domestic or sexual violence. 
Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse-related claims. 
Authorizes the Attorney General to provide a grant for a clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers, labor organizations, and advocates on behalf of victims of domestic or sexual violence.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-12-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14174)
action_date: 2005-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10738-10746)
action_date: 2005-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10737-10738)
action_date: 2005-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate