[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2961 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.2961

                     One Hundred Fifteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
           the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen


                                 An Act


 
  To reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Victims of Child Abuse Act 
Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.
    (a) Findings.--Section 211 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2,000,000'' and inserting 
    ``3,300,000'';
        (2) in paragraph (6)--
            (A) by inserting ``improve positive outcomes for the 
        child,'' before ``and increase''; and
            (B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
        (3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``could be duplicated in many 
    jurisdictions throughout the country.'' and inserting ``have 
    expanded dramatically throughout the United States; and''; and
        (4) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(8) State chapters of children's advocacy center networks are 
    needed to--
            ``(A) assist local communities in coordinating their 
        multidisciplinary child abuse investigation, prosecution, and 
        intervention services; and
            ``(B) provide oversight of, and training and technical 
        assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed 
        programming.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 212 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
1990 (34 U.S.C. 20302) is amended--
        (1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (6);
        (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (7), (8), and (9) as 
    paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7), respectively;
        (3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking ``and'' 
    at the end;
        (4) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking the 
    period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
        (5) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(8) the term `State chapter' means a membership organization 
    that provides technical assistance, training, coordination, grant 
    administration, oversight, and support to local children's advocacy 
    centers, multidisciplinary teams, and communities working to 
    implement a multidisciplinary response to child abuse in the 
    provision of evidence-informed initiatives, including mental health 
    counseling, forensic interviewing, multidisciplinary team 
    coordination, and victim advocacy.''.
    (c) Regional Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 213 of the 
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20303) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``with the Director and''
            (B) by striking paragraph (2);
            (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively;
            (D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``and'' at the end;
            (E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
                (i) by inserting after ``mental health care 
            professionals'' the following: ``, law enforcement 
            officers, child protective service workers, forensic 
            interviewers, prosecutors, and victim advocates,'';
                (ii) by striking ``medical'' each place that term 
            appears; and
                (iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
            ``; and''; and
            (F) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(4) collaborate with State chapters to provide training, 
    technical assistance, coordination, and oversight to--
            ``(A) local children's advocacy centers; and
            ``(B) communities that want to develop local children's 
        advocacy centers.'';
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
            striking ``, in coordination with the Director,'';
                (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and'' at the 
            end;
                (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the 
            prevention, judicial handling, and treatment of child abuse 
            and neglect; and'' and inserting ``multidisciplinary team 
            investigation, trauma-informed interventions, and evidence-
            informed treatment,''; and
                (iv) by striking subparagraph (C); and
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) in subparagraph (A)--

                    (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
                ``communities'' and inserting ``communities, local 
                children's advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, 
                and State chapters'';
                    (II) in clause (i), by inserting ``and expanding'' 
                after ``developing'';
                    (III) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (x) as 
                clauses (iii) through (xi), respectively;
                    (IV) by inserting after clause (i) the following:

                ``(ii) in promoting the effective delivery of the 
            evidence-informed Children's Advocacy Model and the 
            multidisciplinary response to child abuse, including best 
            practices in--

                    ``(I) organizational support and development;
                    ``(II) programmatic evaluation; and
                    ``(III) financial oversight of Federal funding;'';
                    (V) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``a freestanding facility where interviews of 
                and services for abused children can be provided'' and 
                inserting ``child-friendly facilities for the 
                investigation of, assessment of, and intervention in 
                abuse''; and
                    (VI) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``multiple'' and inserting ``duplicative''; 
                and

                (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and interested 
            communities'' after ``advocacy centers'';
        (3) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``remedial counseling 
        to'' and inserting ``evidence-informed services for'';
            (B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by striking 
        ``multidisciplinary child abuse program'' and inserting 
        ``children's advocacy center''; and
            (C) in paragraph (4)(B)--
                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``, 
            in coordination with the Director,'';
                (ii) by striking clause (iii); and
                (iii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses 
            (iii) and (iv), respectively;
        (4) in subsection (d)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, in coordination with 
        the Director,'';
            (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``and the Director''; and
            (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Discontinuation of 
        funding.--'' and all that follows through ``Upon 
        discontinuation'' and inserting the following: 
        ``Discontinuation of funding.--Upon discontinuation''; and
        (5) by striking subsections (e) and (f).
    (d) Local Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 214 of the Victims 
of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20304) is amended--
        (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with the 
Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, shall make grants to--
        ``(1) develop and enhance multidisciplinary child abuse 
    investigations, intervention, and prosecution; and
        ``(2) promote the effective delivery of the evidence-informed 
    Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary response to 
    child abuse, including best practices in programmatic evaluation 
    and financial oversight of Federal funding.'';
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Human 
        Trafficking and'' before ``Child Pornography'';
            (B) by striking ``with the Director and''; and
            (C) by inserting ``human trafficking and'' before ``child 
        pornography'';
        (3) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by striking ``Director'' and inserting 
            ``Administrator''; and
                (ii) by striking ``this section'' and inserting 
            ``subsections (a) and (b)''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``social service'' 
            and inserting ``child protective service'';
                (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the `counseling 
            center''' and inserting ``a `children's advocacy center''';
                (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``sexual and 
            serious physical abuse and neglect cases to the counseling 
            center'' and inserting ``child abuse cases that meet 
            designated referral criteria to the children's advocacy 
            center'';
                (iv) in subparagraph (D)--

                    (I) by striking ``investigative'' and inserting 
                ``forensic''; and
                    (II) by striking ``social service'' and inserting 
                ``child protective service'';

                (v) by striking subparagraph (E);
                (vi) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (J) as 
            subparagraphs (E) through (I), respectively;
                (vii) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by 
            striking ``counseling center'' and inserting ``children's 
            advocacy center or an agency with which there is a linkage 
            agreement regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary child 
            abuse investigation, prosecution, and intervention 
            services'';
                (viii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by 
            striking ``minimize the number of interviews that a child 
            victim must attend'' and inserting ``eliminate duplicative 
            forensic interviews with a child victim'';
                (ix) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by 
            striking ``multidisciplinary program'' and inserting 
            ``children's advocacy center'';
                (x) in subparagraph (H), as so redesignated, by 
            inserting ``intervention and'' before ``judicial 
            proceedings''; and
                (xi) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by 
            striking ``Director'' and inserting ``Administrator'';
        (4) in subsection (d)--
            (A) by striking ``the Director'' and inserting ``the 
        Administrator''; and
            (B) by striking ``both large and small States'' and 
        inserting ``all States that are eligible for such grants, 
        including large and small States,''; and
        (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Grants to State Chapters for Assistance to Local Children's 
Advocacy Centers.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall ensure that a portion of the grants is distributed 
to State chapters to enable State chapters to provide technical 
assistance, training, coordination, and oversight to other recipients 
of grants under this section in providing evidence-informed 
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic interviewing, 
multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim advocacy.''.
    (e) Grants for Specialized Technical Assistance and Training 
Programs.--Section 214A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 
U.S.C. 20305) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``to attorneys'' and all 
    that follows and inserting the following: ``to--
        ``(1) attorneys and other allied professionals instrumental to 
    the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in State or Federal 
    courts, for the purpose of improving the quality of criminal 
    prosecution of such cases; and
        ``(2) child abuse professionals instrumental to the protection 
    of children, intervention in child abuse cases, and treatment of 
    victims of child abuse, for the purpose of--
            ``(A) improving the quality of such protection, 
        intervention, and treatment; and
            ``(B) promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-
        informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary 
        response to child abuse, including best practices in 
        programmatic evaluation and financial oversight of Federal 
        funding.'';
        (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Grantee Organizations.--
        ``(1) Prosecutors.--An organization to which a grant is made 
    for specific training and technical assistance for prosecutors 
    under subsection (a)(1) shall be one that has--
            ``(A) a broad representation of attorneys who prosecute 
        criminal cases in State courts; and
            ``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and 
        technical assistance for prosecutors.
        ``(2) Child abuse professionals.--An organization to which a 
    grant is made for specific training and technical assistance for 
    child abuse professionals under subsection (a)(2) shall be one that 
    has--
            ``(A) a diverse portfolio of training and technical 
        resources for the diverse professionals responding to child 
        abuse, including a digital library to promote evidence-informed 
        practice; and
            ``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and 
        technical assistance for child abuse professionals, especially 
        law enforcement officers, child protective service workers, 
        prosecutors, forensic interviewers, medical professionals, 
        victim advocates, and mental health professionals.''; and
        (3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting after ``shall require'' 
    the following: ``, in the case of a grant made under subsection 
    (a)(1),''.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 214B of the Victims 
of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20306) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``sections 213 and 214'' and 
    all that follows and inserting the following: ``sections 213 and 
    214, $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''; and
        (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``section 214A'' and all 
    that follows and inserting the following: ``section 214A, 
    $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
    (g) Accountability.--Section 214C of the Victims of Child Abuse Act 
of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20307) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``All grants awarded'' and inserting the 
    following:
    ``(a) In General.--All grants awarded''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Reporting.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the Attorney 
General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a 
report that--
        ``(1) summarizes the efforts of the Administrator to monitor 
    and evaluate the regional children's advocacy program activities 
    under section 213(d);
        ``(2) describes--
            ``(A) the method by which amounts are allocated to grantees 
        and subgrantees under this subtitle, including to local 
        children's advocacy centers, State chapters, and regional 
        children's advocacy program centers; and
            ``(B) steps the Attorney General has taken to minimize 
        duplication and overlap in the awarding of amounts under this 
        subtitle; and
        ``(3) analyzes the extent to which both rural and urban 
    populations are served under the regional children's advocacy 
    program.''.
    (h) Technical and Conforming Amendments Relating to Title 34, 
United States Code.--The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 
20301 et seq.) is amended--
        (1) in section 212(1) (34 U.S.C. 20302), by striking ``(42 
    U.S.C. 5611(b))'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11111(b))'';
        (2) in section 214(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20304(c)(1)), by striking 
    ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11183, 
    11186)'';
        (3) in section 214A(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20305(c)(1)), by striking 
    ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11183, 
    11186)'';
        (4) in section 217(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20323(c)(1)), by striking 
    ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11183, 
    11186)''; and
        (5) in section 223(c) (34 U.S.C. 20333(c)), by striking ``(42 
    U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11183, 11186)''.
SEC. 3. IMMUNITY PROTECTIONS FOR REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE.
    (a) State Plans.--Section 106(b)(2)(B)(vii) of the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(vii)) is amended 
to read as follows:
                ``(vii) provisions for immunity from civil or criminal 
            liability under State and local laws and regulations for 
            individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known 
            instances of child abuse or neglect, or who otherwise 
            provide information or assistance, including medical 
            evaluations or consultations, in connection with a report, 
            investigation, or legal intervention pursuant to a good 
            faith report of child abuse or neglect;''.
    (b) Federal Immunity.--
        (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
    any individual making a good faith report to appropriate 
    authorities of a suspected or known instance of child abuse or 
    neglect, or who otherwise, in good faith, provides information or 
    assistance, including medical evaluations or consultations, in 
    connection with a report, investigation, or legal intervention 
    pursuant to a good faith report of child abuse or neglect shall not 
    be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution, under any 
    Federal law, rising from making such report or providing such 
    information or assistance.
        (2) Presumption of good faith.--In a Federal civil action or 
    criminal prosecution brought against a person based on the person's 
    reporting a suspected or known instance of child abuse or neglect, 
    or providing information or assistance with respect to such a 
    report, as described in paragraph (1), there shall be a presumption 
    that the person acted in good faith.
        (3) Costs.--If the defendant prevails in a Federal civil action 
    described in paragraph (2), the court may award costs and 
    reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defendant.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.