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PHOENIX — State lawmakers agreed Monday to let some domestic violence victims out of their leases despite one lawmaker's objection that the measure is unfair to landlords.

The legislation approved by the House, 44-11, says the tenant, with written notice, can vacate the premises if the tenant has been the victim of violence at the home or apartment in the last 30 days.

There are some restrictions: The tenant has to provide the landlord with a copy of a court-issued order of protection or a police report of the incident. And the landlord is entitled to get information on the identity of the perpetrator to be able to go after that person for any financial damages.

The Senate, which already adopted a similar version of SB 1227, now must approve the House changes before the bill goes to the governor.

Chris Groninger, a victim advocate with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said women who have left abusive relationships sometimes are tracked down by the former spouse or boyfriend. Others were living with their abusers at the time.

Groninger said these women need to move but cannot afford to lose their security deposits and any other funds being held, as they need the cash for a new place to live.

The bill prohibits early-termination fees. And the only part of the deposit a landlord can keep is for damage to the property.

Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, said he could not support the measure.

"The responsibility to protect women and children in domestic violence circumstances is the government's, not individual business'," he said. Yet lawmakers seem eager, he said, to shift that burden — and the financial losses that go with it.

Farnsworth pointed out that legislators have approved other similar measures, such as the right of an employee to time off work to file orders of protection. He said these kinds of laws place an unfair burden on individual citizens and businesses.

But Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, noted that the final version of the bill had the support of the Arizona Multihousing Association, which represents landlords.

Waring said they have a self interest in getting rid of tenants who are domestic violence victims, citing a case in Colorado when a woman who wasn't allowed to break a lease was injured, with the result being a lawsuit against the landlord.