Mr. Chair and members of the committee, We are writing to you today regarding HB 764 (Delegate Delany - D), which would allow for the early termination of a lease for survivors of sexual violence. This bill is critical to ensuring that survivors and their children in Virginia have access to a safe living environment. We ask for your support in favor of this legislation. As you may be aware, RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. Founded in 1994, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and hotline.rainn.org). RAINN also carries out programs to support victims, educate the public, and improve public policy. Currently, survivors in Virginia must secure a protective order and wait until 30 days after the following payment period before they can leave an abusive home. Not only does this pose a financial burden and barrier to many, but it can extend abuse for up to two months. HB 764 offers another avenue for survivors to secure an early termination of a lease and reduces how long they are trapped in an unsafe home. Approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, which adds up to more than 10 million men and women annually. Survivors stay with their abusers for multiple reasons, including a lack of financial resources or an inability to find housing elsewhere. Many states have an explicit exception that allows survivors to break a leasing agreement exceptions due to domestic violence in their code. We encourage Virginia to join the growing number of states that have opened pathways for survivors of sexual violence to escape their abusive environment. HB 764 will ensure survivors can use official evidence from law enforcement or a medical professional to break their lease. We urge you to support this bill and pass it out of committee. Thank you for your continued leadership and for supporting victims of sexual violence in Virginia. Mollie Montague Director of State Legislative Affairs, RAINN