H.R. 1991 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1991 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2021Mrs. Torres of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To direct the Attorney General to conduct studies on child custody and divorce in domestic violence cases, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence Act. 2. Study on child custody in domestic violence cases The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall conduct a study investigating whether victims who raise evidence of domestic violence are more likely to lose primary custody of children to an abusive partner or to the State, including— (1) a review of State laws, regulations, and practices on how child neglect and custody situations are handled in domestic violence situations; and (2) a list of recommendations on how to restructure State laws, regulations, and practices to better protect victims of domestic violence and their children. 3. Study on costs of divorce in domestic violence cases The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall— (1) conduct a study on the direct and collateral economic costs and risks of divorce from an abusive partner to a victim of domestic violence, including the payment of alimony, legal fees, spousal support, or the division of property, disaggregated on the basis of whether the individual has higher earnings than their partner; and (2) include recommendations based on the study conducted under paragraph (1).