H.R. 6097

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6097 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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.''.
<all>