H.R. 8911

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8911 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8911

To direct the Attorney General to conduct a study on animal cruelty, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 19, 2026

Ms. Titus (for herself, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Attorney General to conduct a study on animal cruelty, 
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 ``Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat 
of Future Violence Act of 2026'' or the ``AVERT Future Violence Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Animal cruelty.--The term ``animal cruelty''--
(A) means--
(i) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly 
harming or killing an animal, including 
maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding, 
poisoning, engaging in animal fighting, and 
sexually abusing an animal, or attempting to do 
so; or
(ii) intentionally or knowingly neglecting 
or depriving an animal of necessary sustenance 
or shelter, or attempting to do so; and
(B) does not include any conduct that is--
(i) customary and normal veterinary, 
agricultural husbandry, or other animal 
management practice;
(ii) the slaughter of animals for food;
(iii) hunting, trapping, fishing, a 
sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by 
Federal law, predator control, or pest control;
(iv) medical or scientific research;
(v) necessary to protect the life of a 
person; or
(vi) performed as part of euthanizing an 
animal.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a unit of local government;
(C) a State or local court (including a juvenile 
court);
(D) an Indian Tribe; or
(E) any other organization that has a documented 
history of effective work identifying, intervening in, 
preventing, reducing, or otherwise responding to animal 
cruelty, or animal cruelty as related to interpersonal 
violence (as determined by the Secretary), including--
(i) any organization that works directly 
with or on behalf of pets, service animals, 
emotional support animals, or horses and 
collaborates with any organization referred to 
in subparagraphs (A) through (D), including--
(I) an animal shelter; and
(II) an animal welfare 
organization;
(ii) any organization that provides mental 
health services to perpetrators and survivors 
of crime;
(iii) any organization that develops and 
provides training programs for law enforcement, 
judges, prosecutors, other court personnel, 
veterinarians, or mental health professionals;
(iv) a domestic violence and sexual assault 
victim service provider;
(v) a domestic violence and sexual assault 
coalition;
(vi) a child abuse victim service provider;
(vii) a provider of services to families 
under the supervision of the courts or 
departments of child and family services;
(viii) an elder abuse victim service 
provider;
(ix) a community-based and culturally 
specific organization; and
(x) any other nonprofit, nongovernmental 
organization.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON ANIMAL CRUELTY, UNDERLYING FACTORS, AND FUTURE ACTS OF 
HUMAN VIOLENCE.

(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the 
National Institute of Justice, shall carry out a study--
(1) on the underlying factors that contribute to acts of 
animal cruelty committed by individuals; and
(2) that analyzes acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of 
future violence against humans.
(b) Content of Study.--In carrying out the study under subsection 
(a), the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall--
(1) specifically examine, through a review of scientific 
literature, original research, and expert input, as 
appropriate--
(A) evidence-informed risk factors associated or 
correlated with individuals who commit acts of animal 
cruelty;
(B) whether certain acts of animal cruelty can be 
correlated with certain evidence-informed risk factors 
(such as whether the acts of animal torturing, 
tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, organized 
abuse, such as animal fighting, sexual abuse, 
abandonment, or neglect, are associated with the same 
or different evidence-informed risk factors);
(C) whether certain acts of animal cruelty 
demonstrate a tendency or likelihood to commit a future 
act of violence against humans;
(D) the types of violence against humans most 
commonly associated with certain acts of animal cruelty 
(such as domestic violence and assault); and
(E) recommendations of areas in which future 
research on animal cruelty is needed; and
(2) develop best practices for--
(A) early interventions that prevent acts of animal 
cruelty; and
(B) interventions with individuals who have 
committed acts of animal cruelty to prevent future acts 
of violence.
(c) Recommendations.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Justice shall submit to Congress a report containing the specific 
policy recommendations, based on the study conducted under this 
section, for legislative and regulatory action at the Federal, State, 
and local levels to--
(1) address the evidence-informed risk factors that may 
contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals; 
and
(2) develop effective interventions and diversion 
strategies for both juvenile and non-juvenile offenders who 
have been convicted of criminal offenses involving animal 
cruelty that reduce the likelihood of offenders committing 
future violent acts against both humans and animals.

SEC. 4. STOP FUTURE VIOLENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Attorney General is authorized to establish a 
grant program to provide assistance to eligible entities to develop and 
strengthen effective detection strategies, and early intervention or 
diversion resources, to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate 
offenders.
(b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section may be used 
to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, 
and other resources for the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, 
and mental and behavioral health treatment of persons committing acts 
of animal cruelty, for the rehabilitation of perpetrators and the 
prevention of future acts of animal cruelty or violence against humans, 
and specifically, for the purposes of--
(1) training law enforcement officers, judges, other court 
personnel, prosecutors, and mental health professionals to more 
effectively identify and respond to acts of animal cruelty;
(2) developing, training, or expanding units of law 
enforcement officers, judges, other court personnel, 
prosecutors, and mental health professionals specifically 
addressing acts of animal cruelty;
(3) developing and implementing more effective police, 
court, prosecution, mental health, and early intervention 
policies, protocols, orders, and services specifically devoted 
to preventing, identifying, and responding to acts of animal 
cruelty; and
(4) developing, installing, or expanding data collection 
and communication systems, including computerized systems, 
linking police, prosecutors, and courts, or for the purpose of 
identifying, classifying, and tracking arrests, protection 
orders, violations of protection orders, prosecutions, and 
convictions for acts of animal cruelty.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) for the purposes of carrying out section 3, $2,000,000 
for fiscal year 2027, to remain available until expended; and
(2) for the purposes of carrying out section 4, $2,000,000 
to remain available until expended.
<all>