[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3124 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3124
To expand and improve the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program to
ensure legal assistance is provided for survivors in proceedings
related to domestic violence and sexual assault, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 25, 2023
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand and improve the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program to
ensure legal assistance is provided for survivors in proceedings
related to domestic violence and sexual assault, 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 ``Ensuring Representation for
Survivors Act''.
SEC. 2. ENSURING ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Section 1201 of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (34 U.S.C.
20121) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Grants to States To Ensure Access to Legal Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Amount.--In each fiscal year, the Attorney
General shall award to each State submitting an
application under paragraph (3) a grant in an amount
equal to .5 percent of the total amount appropriated
pursuant to subsection (g) for the fiscal year.
``(B) Use.--A State that receives a grant under
subparagraph (A) shall use amounts from the grant to
provide legal assistance to survivors of domestic
violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual
assault, with the goal of every survivor of domestic
violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault
receiving legal assistance.
``(2) Use of funds.--
``(A) In general.--Amounts received by a State
under this subsection shall be distributed by the State
to public or private entities within the State to
implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects
to provide legal assistance, including pro bono
representation and legal advocacy, to help survivors of
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual
assault--
``(i) initiate or respond to motions to
vacate or expunge a conviction, or similar
actions, if the jurisdiction permits such a
legal action based on a person's status as a
crime victim; and
``(ii) with other civil legal actions,
other than tort actions, which are reasonably
necessary as a direct result of the
victimization, such as--
``(I) civil legal assistance with
divorce, child custody, child welfare,
and support proceedings with
corresponding enforcement;
``(II) assistance with and
representation at proceedings for
protective orders, restraining orders,
or other stay-away orders;
``(III) assistance with contract,
housing, employment, education,
healthcare, benefits, and privacy
matters; and
``(IV) intervention with creditors,
law enforcement officers, and other
entities on behalf of survivors of
identity theft and financial fraud.
``(B) Eligibility.--A public or private entity
seeking distribution of amounts from a grant received
by a State under this subsection shall meet the
eligibility requirements described in subsection (d).
``(3) Application.--Each State seeking a grant under this
subsection shall submit an application to the Attorney General
at such time and in such manner as the Attorney General may
reasonably require.''; and
(3) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking
``$57,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018'' and
inserting ``$80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through
2028''.
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