[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4462
To establish a pilot program within the Office on Violence Against
Women of the Department of Justice relating to advocacy for domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking victims, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 23, 2022
Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot program within the Office on Violence Against
Women of the Department of Justice relating to advocacy for domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking victims, and
for other purposes.
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 ``Reaching Every Survivor with Police
and On-site Nonprofit Services Evaluations Act of 2022'' or the
``RESPONSE Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Dating violence; domestic violence; victim advocate.--
The terms ``dating violence'', ``domestic violence'', and
``victim advocate'' have the meaning given those term in
section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34
U.S.C. 12291).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of
Justice.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
community-based organization or a victim service provider (as
defined in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291)) that--
(A) has demonstrated capacity to assist victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or
stalking in crisis through a victim advocate program;
(B) is prepared to provide victim-centered,
culturally relevant, and trauma-informed services to
victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating
violence, or stalking;
(C) has a cooperative agreement or memorandum of
understanding in effect with a local law enforcement
agency that indicates a partnership in responding to
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or
stalking; and
(D) operates a transitional shelter for domestic or
sexual assault victims or has a cooperative agreement
with a local transitional shelter that can house
victims assisted by a victim advocate of the eligible
entity on the crime scene of a domestic violence,
sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking call if
necessary.
(4) Law enforcement agency.--The term ``law enforcement
agency'' has the meaning given the term ``law enforcement'' in
section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34
U.S.C. 12291).
(5) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement
officer'' means an agent of a law enforcement agency with
responsibilities to provide public safety.
(b) Pilot Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a pilot
program under which the Director awards competitive grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of working collaboratively
with local law enforcement agencies to dispatch victim
advocates to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating
violence, or stalking crime scenes in accordance with paragraph
(2).
(2) Crime scene advocacy.--With respect to a crime scene to
which a victim advocate is dispatched under paragraph (1)--
(A) the victim advocate shall arrive at the crime
scene--
(i) after the crime scene is secured by a
law enforcement officer;
(ii) when an arrest is made; or
(iii) when there is probable cause to make
an arrest, but the perpetrator of the crime has
fled; and
(B) a law enforcement officer shall remain at the
crime scene while the victim advocate meets with a
victim.
(3) Victim confidentiality.--A victim of domestic violence,
sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking who receives
advice, counseling, or assistance from a victim advocate under
this subsection shall have the privilege to refuse to disclose,
and to prevent any other person from disclosing, confidential
communications.
(4) Minimum number of awards.--The Director shall award not
fewer than 3 grants under this subsection.
(c) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
subsection (b) shall submit to the Director an application at such at
such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such
information as the Director may reasonably require.
(d) Duration; Stages.--
(1) In general.--The pilot program established under
subsection (b) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years
after the date on which the Director notifies the first
eligible entity that eligible entity is receiving a grant under
the pilot program.
(2) 2nd and final years.--During the 2-year period
beginning on the date on which the Director awards a grant
under this section, the Director shall continue to implement
the pilot program established under subsection (b).
(e) Duties of Eligible Entity.--The head of the eligible entity
shall--
(1) hire additional staff--
(A) to dispatch victim advocates to crime scenes in
accordance with subsection (b)(2); or
(B) if a crime scene is not accessible to a victim
advocate in accordance with subsection (b)(2)(A), to
work with the victim of a crime at another location;
(2) develop policies for collaborating with law enforcement
agencies on dispatching victim advocates to domestic violence,
sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking crime scenes;
(3) train the staff and volunteers of the eligible entity
and each law enforcement agency with which the eligible entity
has a partnership on the policies developed under paragraph
(2); and
(4) begin implementing the pilot program established under
subsection (b).
(f) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
subsection (b) shall use a portion of the grant to--
(1) acquire or update dispatch software, as necessary; and
(2) acquire language interpretation services that allow
victim advocates to communicate with individuals with limited
English proficiency.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall make public a report
that includes data collection and analysis relating to domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking calls in
which victim advocates of the eligible entity were involved
during the pilot program established under this section.
(2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) a description of the activities and
accomplishments of the eligible entity in participating
in the pilot program;
(B) the total number of times that a victim
advocate of the eligible entity was dispatched or
arrived to the crime scene of a domestic violence,
sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking call;
(C) whether the eligible entity observed a
reduction in repeat domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, or stalking calls;
(D) whether victims connected with services of the
eligible entity beyond the advocacy occurring at a
crime scene; and
(E) any other information relating to the pilot
program.
(h) Expansion.--Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), the Director may
continue and expand the pilot program by awarding additional grants
under subsection (b) if, during the third year of the pilot program
established under this section, the Director determines that data from
the pilot program is promising in reducing--
(1) homicides as a result of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(2) repeated calls relating to domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking from the same
individuals.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to
be appropriated for discretionary grants under part U of title I of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10461 et
seq.) for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025, such sums as may be
necessary are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
for each of those fiscal years.
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