[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2961 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 581
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2961
To reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 24, 2018
Mr. Blunt (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Young, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs.
Capito, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Burr, Mr. Casey, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Fischer, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Jones, Mr.
Grassley, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Heller, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Blumenthal)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
September 18, 2018
Reported by Mr. Grassley, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Victims of Child Abuse Act
Reauthorization Act of 2018''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Section 211 of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2,000,000''
and inserting ``3,300,000'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (6)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by inserting ``improve positive
outcomes for the child,'' before ``and increase'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) State chapters of children's advocacy center
networks are needed to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) assist local communities in
coordinating their multidisciplinary child abuse
investigation, prosecution, and intervention services;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) provide oversight of, and training
and technical assistance in, the effective delivery of
evidence-informed programming.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Definitions.--Section 212 of the Victims of Child
Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20302) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (6);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (7),
(8), and (9) as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7),
respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by
striking ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Regional Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 213 of
the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20303) is amended--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ``with the Director and''</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking paragraph (2);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and
(4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
by striking ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by inserting after ``mental
health care professionals'' the following: ``,
law enforcement officers, child protective
service workers, forensic interviewers,
prosecutors, and victim advocates,'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking ``medical'' each
place that term appears; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) collaborate with State chapters to provide
training, technical assistance, coordination, and oversight
to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) local children's advocacy centers;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) communities that want to develop
local children's advocacy centers.'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``, in
coordination with the Director,'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) by striking subparagraph (C);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in subparagraph (A)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking
``communities'' and inserting
``communities, local children's
advocacy centers, multidisciplinary
teams, and State chapters'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) in clause (i), by
inserting ``and expanding'' after
``developing'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (III) by redesignating
clauses (ii) through (x) as clauses
(iii) through (xi),
respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (IV) by inserting after
clause (i) the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) organizational
support and development;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) programmatic
evaluation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) financial
oversight of Federal
funding;'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (VI) in clause (iv), as so
redesignated, by striking ``multiple''
and inserting ``duplicative'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``and interested communities'' after
``advocacy centers'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking
``remedial counseling to'' and inserting ``evidence-
informed services for'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by striking
``multidisciplinary child abuse program'' and inserting
``children's advocacy center''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in paragraph (4)(B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``, in coordination with the
Director,'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking clause (iii);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) by redesignating clauses
(iv) and (v) as clauses (iii) and (iv),
respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, in
coordination with the Director,''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``and the
Director''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) by striking subsections (e) and (f).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Local Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 214 of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20304) is amended--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with
the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, shall make grants to--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) develop and enhance multidisciplinary child
abuse investigations, intervention, and prosecution;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in the subsection heading, by
inserting ``Human Trafficking and'' before ``Child
Pornography'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking ``with the Director and'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by inserting ``human trafficking and''
before ``child pornography'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by striking ``Director'' and
inserting ``Administrator''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking ``this section''
and inserting ``subsections (a) and (b)'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``social service'' and inserting
``child protective service'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in subparagraph (B), by
striking ``the `counseling center''' and
inserting ``a `children's advocacy
center''';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) in subparagraph (D)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) by striking
``investigative'' and inserting
``forensic''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) by striking ``social
service'' and inserting ``child
protective service'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) by striking subparagraph
(E);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) by redesignating
subparagraphs (F) through (J) as subparagraphs
(E) through (I), respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ix) in subparagraph (G), as so
redesignated, by striking ``multidisciplinary
program'' and inserting ``children's advocacy
center'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (x) in subparagraph (H), as so
redesignated, by inserting ``intervention and''
before ``judicial proceedings''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (xi) in subparagraph (I), as so
redesignated, by striking ``Director'' and
inserting ``Administrator'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking ``the Director'' and
inserting ``the Administrator''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking ``both large and small
States'' and inserting ``all States that are eligible
for such grants, including large and small States,'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``to
attorneys'' and all that follows and inserting the following:
``to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) improving the quality of such
protection, intervention, and treatment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Grantee Organizations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) a broad representation of attorneys
who prosecute criminal cases in State courts;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) demonstrated experience in providing
training and technical assistance for
prosecutors.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting after
``shall require'' the following: ``, in the case of a grant
made under subsection (a)(1),''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 214B of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20306) is amended--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``sections 213
and 214'' and all that follows and inserting the following:
``sections 213 and 214, $19,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2019 through 2023.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``section
214A'' and all that follows and inserting the following:
``section 214A, $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) 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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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))'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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)''.</DELETED>
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, $19,000,000 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,
$6,000,000 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.
Calendar No. 581
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2961
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 18, 2018
Reported with an amendment