A bill passed in bipartisan fashion this legislative session would require the Office of Domestic Violence and Prevention to conduct a new study on domestic violence.

It comes after state data showed an uptick in violence against Black and Hispanic people who are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Elisa Crespo, executive director of the New Pride Agenda, told Spectrum News 1 that a state-run study into domestic violence against members of the transgender community would be a “important step."

“I know from being a trans woman of color, someone who is a part of this community, that trans women disproportionally suffer from a lot of things, including violence,” she said.

She insists though, that such a study must be driven by in depth, meaningful conversations with those closest to the issue.

“It’s really important that you put together focus groups, and you’re talking to the target audience," she said "You’re talking to trans women, black trans women, trans women of color, and making sure that the information you are compiling is really accurate."

The bill’s sponsor, state Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, stressed that in looking for solutions to the issue, time is of the essence.

"We are facing an epidemic of violence against the Transgender community; especially Black Transgender women. We need to combat this abhorrent hate before more are hurt,” she said in a statement. “I am proud to sponsor bill A10397/S7185 with Senator Kevin S. Parker, so New York conducts a thorough study to find actionable solutions that we'll use to address the root causes of transgender domestic violence. Trans rights are human rights: please know we are creating a strategic action plan to ensure all our communities are safe."

State Sen. Lea Webb is a cosponsor of the bill. She explained that the legislation comes on the heels of a study by state agencies in 2022 looking into the pervasiveness of gender based violence that found those groups experienced violence disproportionately.

Those numbers show the percentage of Black and Hispanic people who were victims of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes increasing from 45% in 2021 to 55% in 2022.

“A 10% increase in a year,” she said. “This is something we are also finding nationally with an increase in violence against the transgender community.”

This study would be managed by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, and Webb said it would both look for causes and inform potential solutions.

“It certainly will help us as legislators,” she said. “Not only looking at financial resources through the budget, but also other legislative policies.”

Crespo also foresees a possible infusion of funding for Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to provide grants, and like the conduction of the study itself, she emphasized the importance of leaning on those who understand the issue best.

“People who are best equipped to serve our community whether it be providing housing, access to care, counseling, substance use counseling, are members of the community ourselves,” she said.

If this bill is signed, it would be one year before the department is required to submit a report to the governor and legislative leaders with their findings and recommendations.

The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence declined to comment on the bill.