Safe at Home Act
Summary
The Safe at Home Act would require executive agencies and federal courts to accept and use designated substitute addresses provided by state address confidentiality programs. These programs are designed to protect individuals such as domestic violence survivors, stalking victims, and other vulnerable people by allowing them to use a confidential address instead of their actual home address when dealing with federal agencies and courts. Under the bill, participants would not face penalties for providing these designated addresses, and their physical addresses would be protected from disclosure under federal records laws, except in limited circumstances such as criminal proceedings where a federal court determines the address is relevant and necessary.
The bill would require federal agencies to review their procedures within one year of enactment to ensure compliance with state address confidentiality programs. It includes exceptions allowing courts to order disclosure of physical addresses when necessary for criminal proceedings or when agencies need the actual address to comply with federal law requirements, though any disclosed address would be restricted to its intended purpose and kept confidential.