A new Kentucky law removes a barrier that victims of domestic violence often face when making the decision to leave their abuser.
Lawmakers this session passed a bill that allows those with long-term protective orders to break a rental lease with 30 days notice to their landlord. Without that protection, victims often stay in abusive homes and relationships.
Tori Henninger heads Barren River Area Safe Space, a domestic violence shelter in Bowling Green. She says the legislation will also help prevent financial hardships for the abused.
"What could happen if they break a lease, they could get a bad mark on their credit rating," Henninger told WKU Public Radio. "When future landlords pull their credit report and see they were a bad renter, they might denied the ability to move on."
Governor Matt Bevin signed the measure into law and it will take effect in June. The same law will also make it illegal to evict any domestic violence victim who has a protective order.