Bill protecting dating violence victims wins House approval

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House has voted to extend emergency protective orders to people whose dating relationships turn violent.

The bill passed the House 98-0 on Thursday and now goes to the Senate. Senate President Robert Stivers said earlier this week that the bill might be tweaked in the Senate but has a "high likelihood of success."

The measure would create a unified, comprehensive system of civil protections in Kentucky for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Kentucky is among a few remaining states that haven’t extended those emergency protections to victims of dating violence.

Victims’ advocates have been pushing for the expanded protections for years.

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The legislation is House Bill 8.