New legislation, the bipartisan Federal Retirement Safety Act, would change the spousal notification and consent requirements for the payment of lump-sum retirement benefits in cases of domestic violence.
The bill, H.R. 7706, introduced in late February, would allow survivors of domestic violence "to maintain privacy and confidentiality from their abusers when accessing their hard-earned retirement benefits," Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., said Monday in a statement.
"Under current processes, retiring federal employees must obtain written, notarized consent from a current or former spouse if they change or update their retirement benefits distribution," Neguse said. "This paperwork includes sensitive personal information, such as phone numbers and home addresses, which, if shared, endangers survivors of spousal abuse."
The Federal Retirement Safety Act protects survivors by directing the Office of Personnel Management to waive the spousal consent requirement, "similarly to what is already available to others in the event of extenuating circumstances like the death of a spouse or an inability to determine their whereabouts," Neguse said.
The bill "is a common-sense and critical reform that protects survivors of domestic violence, ensuring they can maintain their privacy from those who have caused them immense and unimaginable harm. I'm deeply grateful to my colleagues for joining me in this effort to advance the safety of everyone in our community," Neguse said.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla.; Gwen Moore, D-Wis.; and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who also serve as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence.
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