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Survivor urges expansion of Safe at Home program in HB396 testimony
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Summary
A survivor urged the committee to expand Ohio's Safe at Home address‑confidentiality program to include victims of additional violent crimes, such as gun-violence survivors and family members of homicide victims, citing ongoing safety risks when addresses remain publicly accessible.
At a second hearing on House Bill 396, Danita Bridal, who identified herself as a survivor of a violent assault and a member of Ohio Survivors Speak, urged lawmakers to expand the state's Safe at Home address‑confidentiality protections to cover victims of additional violent crimes.
Bridal described the continuing fear when addresses can be found in public records and said expansion would "allow more survivors to relocate without fear, establish real security, and focus on their recovery." She told the committee that existing program criteria exclude some survivors of violent assault and that people sometimes remain at risk after relocation because perpetrators can locate them through public records or social media.
Representative Russo asked about program eligibility and whether access could be granted without a conviction; Bridal said the program should consider victims who have received threats or been stalked even if charges or convictions are not yet obtained, while acknowledging that eligibility questions require additional technical work. Representative Burke thanked the witness for testifying and said he would direct technical questions to sponsors.
The committee concluded the second hearing on HB396 after the proponent testimony.
