# Summary
The SAFE for Survivors Act of 2024 is comprehensive legislation designed to strengthen protections and economic security for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and related forms of gender-based violence. The bill establishes that survivors lose millions of work days annually and face employment discrimination, housing instability, and financial control by abusers, which undermines their economic independence and safety.
The legislation creates multiple new protections for survivors. It requires employers to provide at least 40 work days of leave annually—including at least 10 paid days—for survivors to address the effects of violence through activities like seeking legal assistance, obtaining counseling, securing housing, or attending court proceedings. Employers cannot retaliate against employees for taking this leave, and the law prohibits discrimination against survivors in hiring, promotion, and working conditions. The bill also establishes that survivors who voluntarily leave employment due to violence remain eligible for unemployment benefits if they provide appropriate documentation.
The law strengthens insurance protections by prohibiting insurers from denying coverage, raising premiums, or canceling policies based on someone's status as a violence survivor. It restricts how insurers can use and share victim information to protect safety and privacy. Additionally, the legislation expands workplace accommodation requirements for survivors, enables states to provide emergency financial benefits during leave periods, and funds training for unemployment claims processors on trauma-informed handling of violence-related claims.
The bill applies broadly across federal, state, and private employers, with specific provisions for congressional and federal employees. Enforcement mechanisms include civil litigation rights, penalties up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney's fee awards. The legislation also authorizes funding for victim services organizations and national public education campaigns through fiscal year 2029.