Committee backs bill expanding coercive‑control offense, recognizing animal abuse, and tightening diversion programs

Senator Claudio presented a delete‑all amendment and replacement for SB 682 that broadens domestic‑violence definitions, creates an enhanced penalty for convictions involving coercive control, and reclassifies certain domestic‑violence offenses and injunction violations occurring during states of emergency. The amendment also revises pretrial diversion to a domestic‑violence deferred‑sentencing program with data collection requirements and specified plea procedures.

Survivor testimony was a central part of the hearing. One witness recounted repeated strangulation, threats and system failures, documenting preserved messages and evidence and urging the legislature to ‘‘take strangulation seriously.’’ Another speaker described wrongful arrest, evidentiary failures across jurisdictions and the mismatch between available remedies and victim safety. The Animal Legal Defense Fund urged support, saying the bill would protect companion animals and cited statistics about how animal threats delay victims from seeking shelter.

Sponsor remarks highlighted monitoring, verification and strengthened program oversight. Senators adopted the amendment and, after public testimony and closing remarks, reported CS for SB 682 favorably.

The committee’s action sends the restructured bill to the next legislative stage where courts, prosecutors and victim‑service providers may weigh in on implementation details such as training timelines and program oversight.