For victims of domestic violence, the ability to hide from—or avoid—an assailant can mean the difference between life and death. Unfortunately, shared telephone plans can create unexpected dangers for victims by allowing abusers to track their location and glean private contact information. Leaving a shared plan can be especially difficult if a victim is not the primary account holder. Most phone companies require the primary account holder’s consent to remove individuals from a plan, with no exceptions for domestic violence situations. Compounding the problem, early termination fees can cost consumers hundreds of dollars—a burden that often falls on the victim. 
 

While some states have enacted measures to help survivors of domestic violence avoid these pitfalls, Pennsylvania has no such protections. That is why I will soon introduce legislation to alleviate the financial and safety risks that shared telephone plans impose on victims of domestic violence. Under my proposal, a victim who is not a primary account holder could petition the courts to order the abuser to remove the victim from the plan. The court would also have authority to assign any associated early termination fees to the abuser, preventing further financial harm to the victim. 
 

For victims who are primary account holders, this legislation would require telecommunications service providers to waive fees associated with removing an abuser from a shared plan and provide a new telephone number within 24 hours, upon request. Victims seeking these protections would submit a written request and provide valid proof of domestic abuse. To further protect survivors, the bill mandates that providers keep all documentation and personal information related to domestic violence cases strictly confidential. 

As legislators, we must stand with victims of domestic violence by giving them the tools they need to protect themselves and their loved ones. I invite you to join me in co-sponsoring this critical legislation. Your support is vital to ensuring survivors in Pennsylvania are not trapped by the very phone plans that should be keeping them connected and safe.