S. 129 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 129 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013 Mr. Whitehouse introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To save money and reduce tragedies through prevention grants. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saving Money and Reducing Tragedies through Prevention Act of 2013 or the SMART Prevention Act of 2013. 2. Saving money and reducing tragedies through prevention grants (a) SMART prevention Section 41303 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043d–2) is amended to read as follows: 41303. Saving Money and Reducing Tragedies through Prevention (SMART Prevention) (a) Grants authorized The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education, is authorized to award grants for the purpose of preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by taking a comprehensive approach that focuses on youth, children exposed to violence, and men as leaders and influencers of social norms. (b) Use of funds Funds provided under this section may be used for the following purposes: (1) Teen dating violence awareness and prevention To develop, maintain, or enhance programs that change attitudes and behaviors around the acceptability of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and provide education and skills training to young individuals and individuals who influence young individuals. The prevention program may use evidence-based, evidence-informed, or innovative strategies and practices focused on youth. Such a program should include— (A) age and developmentally appropriate education on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual coercion, as well as healthy relationship skills, in school, in the community, or in health care settings; (B) community-based collaboration and training for those with influence on youth, such as parents, teachers, coaches, health-care providers, faith-leaders, older teens, and mentors; (C) education and outreach to change environmental factors contributing to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (D) policy development targeted to prevention, including school-based policies and protocols. (2) Children exposed to violence and abuse To develop, maintain or enhance programs designed to prevent future incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by preventing, reducing and responding to children’s exposure to violence in the home. Such programs may include— (A) providing services for children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, including direct counseling or advocacy, and support for the non-abusing parent; and (B) training and coordination for educational, after-school, and childcare programs on how to safely and confidentially identify children and families experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and properly refer children exposed and their families to services and violence prevention programs. (3) Engaging men as leaders and role models To develop, maintain or enhance programs that work with men to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by helping men to serve as role models and social influencers of other men and youth at the individual, school, community or statewide levels. (c) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be— (1) a victim service provider, community-based organization, tribe or tribal organization, or other non-profit, nongovernmental organization that has a history of effective work preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and expertise in the specific area for which they are applying for funds; or (2) a partnership between a victim service provider, community-based organization, tribe or tribal organization, or other non-profit, nongovernmental organization that has a history of effective work preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and at least one of the following that has expertise in serving children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, youth domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking prevention, or engaging men to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking: (A) A public, charter, tribal, or nationally accredited private middle or high school, a school administered by the Department of Defense under section 2164 of title 10, United States Code, or section 1402 of the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978, a group of schools, or a school district. (B) A local community-based organization, population-specific organization, or faith-based organization that has established expertise in providing services to youth. (C) A community-based organization, population-specific organization, university or health care clinic, faith-based organization, or other non-profit, nongovernmental organization with a demonstrated history of effective work addressing the needs of children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (D) A nonprofit, nongovernmental entity providing services for runaway or homeless youth affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (E) Health care entities eligible for reimbursement under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, including providers that target the special needs of children and youth. (F) Any other agencies, population-specific organizations, or nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations with the capacity to provide necessary expertise to meet the goals of the program. (d) Grantee requirements (1) In general Applicants for grants under this section shall prepare and submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require that demonstrates the capacity of the applicant and partnering organizations to undertake the project. (2) Policies and procedures Applicants under this section shall establish and implement policies, practices, and procedures that— (A) include appropriate referral systems to direct any victim identified during program activities to highly qualified follow-up care; (B) protect the confidentiality and privacy of adult and youth victim information, particularly in the context of parental or third party involvement and consent, mandatory reporting duties, and working with other service providers; (C) ensure that all individuals providing prevention programming through a program funded under this section have completed or will complete sufficient training in connection with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking; and (D) document how prevention programs are coordinated with service programs in the community. (3) Preference In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Attorney General shall give preference to applicants that— (A) include outcome-based evaluation; and (B) identify any other community, school, or State-based efforts that are working on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking prevention and explain how the grantee or partnership will add value, coordinate with other programs, and not duplicate existing efforts. (e) Definitions and grant conditions (1) In general In this section and except as provided in paragraph (2), the definitions and grant conditions provided for in section 40002 shall apply. (2) Youth In this section, the term youth shall include individuals 11 years of age. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. Amounts appropriated under this section may only be used for programs and activities described under this section. (g) Allotment (1) In general Not less than 25 percent of the total amounts appropriated under this section in each fiscal year shall be used for each set of purposes described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a). (2) Indian tribes Not less than 10 percent of the total amounts appropriated under this section in each fiscal year shall be made available for grants to Indian tribes or tribal organizations. If an insufficient number of applications are received from Indian tribes or tribal organizations, such funds shall be allotted to other population-specific programs. . (b) Repeals The following provisions are repealed: (1) Sections 41304 and 41305 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043d–3 and 14043d–4). (2) Section 403 of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14045c).