,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #b1 #bjbc,mr4 ,wyden introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a pilot program to address technology-related abuse in domestic violence cases4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tech ,safety for ,victims of ,domestic ,violence1 ,dating ,violence1 ,sexual ,assault1 and ,stalking ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in the ,united ,states1 #da percent of women and #bf percent of men experience some form of sexual violence1 physical violence1 or stalking1 or a combination thereof1 by an intimate partner4 7#b7 ,many victims of intimate partner violence also experience nonphysical forms of abuse4 7#c7 ,with the proliferation of digital technology1 technological abuse has become increasingly prevalent and pervasive among victims of intimate partner violence4 7#d7 ,according to a #bjba study by the ,national ,network to ,end ,domestic ,violence1 #ig percent of the programs providing support to victims of intimate partner violence have indicated that abusers are making use of technology to stalk1 harass1 or control victims4 7#e7 ,in the ,united ,states1 #a in #c women under the age of #ce report being sexually harassed online1 and over half of ,,lgbtq individuals report being the target of online abuse based on their sexual orientation or gender4 7#f7 ,of victims who are stalked using technology-- 7,a7 #fg percent received unwanted phone calls1 voice messages1 or text messages2 7,b7 #ej percent received unwanted emails or messages via the internet2 7,c7 about #ce percent said their activities were monitored using social media2 7,d7 #bg percent experienced the offender posting or threatening to post inappropriate1 unwanted1 or personal information about them on the internet2 and 7,e7 #ai percent said the offender spied on them or monitored their activities using technologies such as listening devices1 cameras1 or computer or cellphone monitoring software4 7#g7 ,technological abuse runs the gamut of technical sophistication1 from the most basic social media platforms and phone-based apps to specialty stalkerware apps1 demonstrating that technological abuse does not require huge financial resources or complex knowledge of technology4 7#h7 ,rapid advances in the technology and methods for technological abuse present challenges for advocates seeking to advise victims and prevent technological abuse4 7#i7 ,the integration of trained technology experts into survivor support networks has been successful in preventing and shielding survivors from technological abuse4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women4 7#b7 ,eligible consortium ,the term eligible consortium means an association-- 7,a7 between-- 7i7 7,i7 #a or more institutions of higher education that offers a masters1 doctoral1 or vocational program in information technology1 cybersecurity1 computer science1 or other similar technological discipline2 or 7,,ii7 #a or more private or public sector partners in the community with a technical workforce and a plan for recruiting technologists or volunteers to work alongside a victim service provider 7as defined in section #djjjb7;a7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7;a772 and 7ii7 #a or more public or private domestic violence or sexual violence centers2 and 7,b7 which has a letter of support from the local1 ,state1 ,tribal1 or territorial government with jurisdiction over the area in which the activities to combat technological abuse will be implemented4 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#d7 ,pilot program ,the term pilot program means the pilot program established under section #d7;a77#a74 7#e7 ,technological abuse ,the term technological abuse has the meaning given the term in section #djjjb7;a77#dj7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7;a77#dj774 #d4 ,pilot program to combat technological abuse 7a7 ,pilot program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director1 in accordance with paragraph 7#b71 shall establish a pilot program under which the ,director may award grants to eligible consortia to combat technological abuse4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in preparing to establish the pilot program-- 7,a7 the ,director shall consult with-- 7i7 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services2 7ii7 the ,secretary of ,education2 and 7iii7 the ,chairman of the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 and 7,b7 the ,director and the officers described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall consult with relevant stakeholders1 including-- 7i7 groups that work on reducing technological abuse2 and 7ii7 population specific and culturally specific victim service providers4 7#c7 ,application ,an eligible consortium desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,director an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing or accompanied by such information1 as the ,director may reasonably require4 7#d7 ,grant limits 7,a7 ,award amount ,a grant awarded under the pilot program shall be in an amount that is not more than #b1jjj1jjj4 7,b7 ,number of recipients ,not more than #ae grants may be awarded under the pilot program4 7#e7 ,duration of pilot program ,the pilot program shall terminate on the date that is #e years after the date of the first award under the pilot program4 7b7 ,use of grant funds ,a recipient of a grant under this section may use the amounts received under the grant to combat technological abuse1 including for-- 7#a7 the purchase of new technological devices for victims and survivors of technological abuse2 and 7#b7 any other use1 including the provision of victim services1 that will reduce technological abuse or assist victims and survivors of technological abuse4 7c7 ,pilot program review 7#a7 ,during pilot program ,not later than #c years after the date of the first award under the pilot program1 the ,director shall submit to each committee of ,congress with jurisdiction of the activities carried out under the pilot program a report-- 7,a7 reviewing the efficacy of the pilot program2 7,b7 indicating challenges to implementation and possible solutions2 and 7,c7 including a recommendation relating to whether the pilot program should be turned into a permanent program4 7#b7 ,after pilot program termination ,not later than #a year after the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 7a77#e71 the ,director shall submit to each committee of ,congress with jurisdiction of the activities carried out under the pilot program a report reviewing the efficacy of the pilot program1 including best practices and improvements needed to combat technological abuse4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 #e4 ,grant program to provide education on technological abuse 7a7 ,grant program authorized ,the ,director in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall establish a program under which the ,director may award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to develop and implement training and educational programs and technical assistance for organizations and individuals who provide support for victims of technological abuse4 7b7 ,multiple grants ,a recipient of a grant under section #d is not barred from receiving a grant under this section4 7c7 ,use of grant funds ,a nonprofit organization or institution of higher education shall use the amounts received under a grant under this section to develop tools1 curricula1 and other materials4 7d7 ,grant program limits 7#a7 ,maximum amount ,the ,director may award a total of not more than #bj1jjj1jjj in grants under this section4 7#b7 ,period of grants ,the ,director shall award grants under this section for a period of #e years4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4