,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hgcc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #aa1 #bjbf,mr4 ,ryan introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh to establish a grant program to support protective orders that protect individuals who are related by blood or marriage to individuals in intimate relationships1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as ,melanie's ,law4 #b4 ,grant program to support protective orders that protect individuals who are related by blood or marriage to individuals in intimate relationships ,title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,,pp ,,melanie',s ,,law3 ,,grant ,,program ,,to ,,support ,,protective ,,orders ,,that ,,protect ,,individuals ,,related ,,by ,,blood ,,or ,,marriage ,,to ,,individuals ,,in ,,intimate ,,relationships #cjfa4 ,purpose2 definition of ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this part is to support ,states to implement the ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities and carry out related activities involving protective orders and domestic violence4 7b7 ,definition of ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities ,in this part1 the term ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities means laws that ensure that family courts and criminal courts1 as applicable1 have each of the following authorities3 7#a7 ,the jurisdiction and authority to issue and enforce a protective order that protects one individual from another1 where the two individuals-- 7,a7 are related by consanguinity or affinity2 7,b7 are legally married to each other2 7,c7 were formerly married to each other1 regardless of whether the individuals still reside in the same household2 7,d7 have a child in common1 regardless of whether the individuals have been married or have lived together at any time2 or 7,e7 are or have been in an intimate relationship with each other4 7#b7 ,in a situation in which two individuals are or have been in an intimate relationship with each other1 the jurisdiction and authority to issue and enforce a protective order that protects a third individual1 regardless of age1 where that third individual is related by consanguinity or affinity to either of the two individuals4 #cjfb4 ,grants 7a7 ,authority ,the ,attorney ,general may make grants to eligible ,states for the following purposes3 7#a7 ,to provide education and training to law enforcement officers1 prosecutors1 and courts on the ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities and the implementation of those authorities4 7#b7 ,to facilitate the service of process of protective orders1 such as by enabling or improving service of process-- 7,a7 in person or by electronic means2 or 7,b7 across ,state1 ,tribal1 or local jurisdictional lines4 7#c7 ,to establish or enhance-- 7,a7 systems that manage and track information about protective orders and violations of protective orders1 such as systems operated by law enforcement agencies or courts2 and 7,b7 mechanisms for the sharing of such information between and among such systems4 7#d7 ,to support official units or positions that have specialized responsibilities with respect to protective orders or domestic violence1 such as to enforce or promote compliance1 to prosecute violations1 or to coordinate with others on such matters4 7#e7 ,to enable or improve the provision to victims in matters involving protective orders of-- 7,a7 civil legal services1 to help such victims obtain1 modify1 and enforce protective orders or to represent such victims in related matters involving immigration or custody2 7,b7 victim advocacy services1 hotline services1 and crisis response services2 7,c7 emergency shelter services1 relocation assistance1 transportation assistance1 childcare assistance1 and short-term housing assistance2 7,d7 access to counseling1 trauma-informed therapy1 and case management2 and 7,e7 access to communications equipment and services for personal safety and for participation in hearings or other official proceedings4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible for grants under this section1 a ,state must have in effect1 and must certify that it has in effect1 the ,melanie's ,law protective order authorities4 7c7 ,use of grant amounts ,upon request of an eligible ,state1 the ,attorney ,general may permit the ,state to use grant amounts under this part to provide the non-,federal share of the cost of programs or projects funded by other grant programs administered by the ,attorney ,general that provide support or services to victims4 #cjfc4 ,applications 7a7 ,in general ,to request a grant under this part1 the chief executive of a ,state shall submit an application to the ,attorney ,general in such form and containing such information as the ,attorney ,general may reasonably require4 ,such application shall include assurances that ,federal funds received under this part shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 non-,federal funds that would otherwise be available for activities funded under this part1 except as provided in section #cjfb7;c74 7b7 ,implementation plan ,such application shall include an implementation plan describing how the funds will be used1 what performance measures will be applied1 and how the ,state will coordinate and partner with the relevant elements of the justice system1 judicial system1 and victims services system4 #cjfd4 ,allocations 7a7 ,in general ,for each fiscal year1 of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for that fiscal year1 the ,attorney ,general may obligate-- 7#a7 not more than #ge percent for grants to eligible ,states on a formula basis1 with each such ,state receiving an amount that bears the same ratio to the #ge percent as the population of the ,state bears to the population of all such ,states2 7#b7 not more than #bb percent for grants to eligible ,states on a competitive basis2 and 7#c7 not more than #c percent for the administrative expenses of the ,attorney ,general in carrying out this part for that fiscal year1 including technical assistance1 training1 evaluation1 and program administration4 7b7 ,minimum allocation under formula ,notwithstanding subsection 7a77#a71 each eligible ,state shall receive an amount under subsection 7a77#a7 of not less than #j4e percent4 #cjfe4 ,reports ,each grantee receiving funds under this part shall submit a report to the ,attorney ,general evaluating the effectiveness of projects developed with funds provided under this part and containing such additional information as the ,attorney ,general may prescribe4 #cjff4 ,definition of ,state ,in this part1 the term ,state means each of the several ,states and the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #cjfg4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part #bjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcf4 4