A state representative proposed legislation yesterday that would protect survivors of abuse and offered funding for a local shelter.

Sen. Jake Corman, R-34, introduced his Senate Bill 130 at the Centre County Women's Resource Center, 140 W. Nittany Ave, yesterday morning. The bill amends the state's current Protection From Abuse Act by directing courts to enforce and validate Protection From Abuse orders issued outside of Pennsylvania.

"This will make Pennsylvania a safe haven for people suffering from abuse," Corman said. "We're a very mobile society. It's silly to have to register from one state to another."

Under the bill, victims will not have to register when entering the state in order for police to enforce the protection, thus making it so victims can travel freely to Pennsylvania and not have to worry about not being protected from an abuser, said Corman.

Protection orders from other states will be presumed valid and enforced as if they were issued in Pennsylvania. The bill also protects police officers that enforce out-of-state orders from civil liability.

The bill is part of a national effort for each state to enact such a decree, Corman said.

"Currently 47 states have such a statute," Corman said.

"We're late in the game, we have to get this done soon."

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) commended the senator on his bill.

"Often it's more dangerous for victims to register because the abusers can track them down," said Denise Scotland, spokeswoman for PCADV.

"Domestic and sexual violence are brutal crimes that can only be stopped by efforts such as this."

At the conference, Corman also presented the center with a $100,000 grant that he secured.

The center formally initiated a $1.5 million renovation to expand and improve their facility.

The center had raised money from the community, private contributions and other government funds but was still short in meeting its goal.

"While it's only a small percentage of the $1.5 million, we're getting close to the finish line," Corman said.

Anne Ard, director of the center, said it is extremely grateful for Corman's support of its work with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.

"This grant will help us move into the next several years debt-free," Ard said.