On March 6, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed Intro. 148-A in law, which amends the definition of the term "victim of domestic violence" under the city’s Human Rights Law to recognize economic abuse as a form of domestic violence and extends existing protections for domestic violence victims to those who have experienced economic abuse.
According to New York City Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel, “this legislation strengthens anti-discrimination protections for survivors experiencing financial hardships due to economic abuse and keeps them on the path to safety, healing, and stability including long-term financial stability."
Council member Justin Brannan, who sponsored the bill, said economic abuse is a “type of emotional and psychological terrorism [that] occurs in almost every abusive relationship and is the number one reason victims stay in or return to toxic and often violent relationships. It is impossible to escape an abusive relationship when your tormentor is controlling your money.”
Senior Executive Director of Columbia Health Sexual Violence Response (SVR) La’Shawn Rivera noted that while SVR and many organizations working in the anti-violence movement have long recognized economic abuse as a form of domestic and power-based violence, having legal backing in the form of Intro. 148-A strengthens survivors' ability to access or maintain economic resources, secure financial aid, employment, and housing in New York City, and ultimately, safety.
