[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6097 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6097
To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to authorize
grants to ensure access for victims of family violence, domestic
violence, and dating violence to substance use disorder treatment that
allows parents (or legal guardians) and their children, stepchildren,
or other dependents to remain together throughout the course of
treatment, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 26, 2023
Mr. Mrvan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to authorize
grants to ensure access for victims of family violence, domestic
violence, and dating violence to substance use disorder treatment that
allows parents (or legal guardians) and their children, stepchildren,
or other dependents to remain together throughout the course of
treatment, 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. GRANTS FOR SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER.
(a) In General.--The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
(42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 315. GRANTS FOR SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER.
``(a) Safe Recovery Together.--
``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated under section
303(e) and available to carry out this subsection for any
fiscal year, the Secretary may award grants to eligible
entities to develop, implement, and improve programs for
ensuring access for victims of family violence, domestic
violence, and dating violence to substance use disorder
treatment that allows parents (or legal guardians) and their
children, stepchildren, or other dependents to remain together
throughout the course of treatment.
``(2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection, an entity shall be--
``(A) a State;
``(B) a State Domestic Violence Coalition;
``(C) a nonprofit entity, including a Tribal,
culturally specific organization, or community-based
organization, with a history of effective work in the
fields of family violence, domestic violence, or dating
violence and substance use disorder treatment,
prevention, and recovery support; or
``(D) a local or State department (or other
division) of health (including mental health,
behavioral health, or substance abuse agencies), a
State Domestic Violence Coalition or victim service
provider, or any other nonprofit, nongovernmental
organization with a history of effective work in the
fields of family violence, domestic violence, or dating
violence and substance use disorder treatment,
prevention, and recovery support.
``(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(4) Use of funds.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this subsection shall, directly or through
subgrants or contracts, develop and implement a program
for ensuring access for victims of family violence,
domestic violence, and dating violence to substance use
disorder treatment that allows parents (or legal
guardians) and their children, stepchildren, or other
dependents to remain together throughout the course of
treatment by carrying out one or more of the authorized
activities described in subparagraph (B).
``(B) Authorized activities described.--The
authorized activities described in this subparagraph
include the following:
``(i) The provision of residential and
nonresidential substance use disorder treatment
services.
``(ii) Notwithstanding section 308(d)(1),
the provision or expansion of transitional
housing, temporary rental assistance, and other
supportive housing stability services,
including direct cash assistance.
``(iii) The provision of services that--
``(I) support victims of family
violence, domestic violence, and dating
violence while receiving substance use
disorder treatment services, including
recovery and harm reduction; and
``(II) enable parents (or legal
guardians) and their children,
stepchildren, or other dependents to
remain together throughout the course
of treatment, including--
``(aa) supportive services,
including advocacy, case
management, and information and
referral services;
``(bb) health care
services, including prenatal
wellness services, and support
services for pregnant and
postpartum victims; and
``(cc) services for
children and youth that are
exposed to family violence,
domestic violence, and dating
violence, including age-
appropriate confidential
counseling and supportive
services.
``(iv) The cultivation of partnerships
between State, local, and Tribal policymakers
in order to develop and implement service and
policy changes for victims of family violence,
domestic violence, and dating violence with
substance use disorders that ensure the safety
of victims, and reduce barriers for victims
disproportionately affected by family violence.
``(v) The provision of training for staff
associated with delivering services to ensure
that each program developed using a grant
received under this subsection includes
procedures that protect the safety, privacy,
and confidentiality of parents (or legal
guardians) and their children, stepchildren, or
other dependents in a manner consistent with
subparagraph (F).
``(vi) Such other activities as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(C) Advance notice of information disclosure.--If
the release of information is compelled by statutory or
court mandate, an eligible entity receiving a grant
under this section shall--
``(i) provide advance notice to victims
affected by the release of such information
about the circumstances compelling the release
of such information, such as mandatory
reporting laws; and
``(ii) give victims the option to receive
information and referrals without affirmatively
disclosing abuse.
``(D) Administration and technical assistance.--
Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this
subsection may use--
``(i) up to 6 percent of the grant amount
to procure technical assistance, including
technical assistance provided by the National
Capacity Building Center to Prevent Substance
Use Coercion established under subsection (b);
and
``(ii) up to 5 percent of the grant amount
for evaluation, monitoring, staff training, and
other administrative costs under this
subsection.
``(E) Reports and evaluations.--Each eligible
entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall
submit to the Secretary at such time as shall be
reasonably required by the Secretary, a report that--
``(i) describes the activities that have
been carried out with such grant funds;
``(ii) includes an evaluation of the
effectiveness of such activities; and
``(iii) provides such additional
information as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(F) Privacy.--Each eligible entity receiving a
grant under this subsection shall ensure that each
program developed or implemented with such grant
protects victim privacy, confidentiality, and safety in
compliance with applicable confidentiality, privacy,
and nondisclosure requirements of this Act.
``(b) National Capacity Building Center to Prevent Substance Use
Coercion.--
``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated under section
303(e) and available to carry out this subsection for any
fiscal year, the Secretary may award a grant to an eligible
entity for the establishment and maintenance of a National
Capacity Building Center to Prevent Substance Use Coercion that
will undertake the activities described in paragraph (3).
``(2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection, an eligible entity--
``(A) shall be a nonprofit private organization
that focuses primarily on domestic violence;
``(B) shall provide documentation to the Secretary
demonstrating experience working directly on issues of
domestic violence;
``(C) shall provide documentation to the Secretary
demonstrating experience working directly on the
intersection of domestic violence, substance use, and
substance use coercion;
``(D) shall--
``(i) include on the entity's advisory
board representatives who are from domestic
violence service programs and who are
geographically and culturally diverse; or
``(ii) procure equivalent involvement of,
and feedback from, individuals who have such
qualifications, if the entity does not have an
advisory board; and
``(E) shall demonstrate the strong support of
domestic violence service programs from across the
Nation for the entity's demonstrated history in
providing training and technical assistance on the
intersection of domestic violence, substance misuse,
and substance use coercion.
``(3) Required uses of funds.--The eligible entity awarded
a grant under this subsection, through the National Capacity
Building Center to Prevent Substance Use Coercion, shall use
the grant--
``(A) to provide training and technical assistance
to entities receiving grants under subsection (a) in
the implementation of programs funded under such
subsection;
``(B) to conduct evaluations of programs funded
under subsection (a);
``(C) to identify and disseminate best practices
that emerge from programs funded under subsection (a);
and
``(D) to carry out such other activities as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(c) Federal Administration.--From the sums appropriated under
section 303(e) for any fiscal year, not more than $4,000,000 for such
fiscal year may be used by the Secretary for evaluation, monitoring,
and other administrative expenses.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Substance use coercion.--The term `substance use
coercion' means any act, threatened act, or pattern of acts of
physical or sexual violence, or any other form of abuse
involving substance misuse through the use of force, threat, or
coercion, that results in, or exacerbates, a substance use
disorder, a substance-induced mental disorder, or any other
form of substance dependance, directed against--
``(A) a dating partner or other person similarly
situated to a dating partner under the laws of the
jurisdiction where such an act occurs;
``(B) a person who is cohabitating with or has
cohabitated with the person committing such an act;
``(C) a current or former spouse or other person
similarly situated to a current or former spouse under
the laws of the jurisdiction where such an act occurs;
``(D) a person who shares a child, stepchild, or
other dependent in common with the person committing
such an act;
``(E) a person who is related by marriage, blood,
or is otherwise legally related; or
``(F) any other person who is protected from any
such act under the domestic or family violence laws,
policies, or regulations of the jurisdiction where the
act occurs.
``(2) Victim.--The term `victim' means an individual
against whom an act of domestic violence, dating violence, or
family violence is carried out.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 303 of the Family
Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10403) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(e) Safe Recovery Together Grants.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out section 315 $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2027.''.
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