,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #defb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ai1 #bjbf,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,tillis7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,attorney ,general to conduct a study on animal cruelty1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,animal ,violence ,exposes ,real ,threat of ,future ,violence ,act of #bjbf or the ,,avert ,future ,violence ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,animal cruelty ,the term animal cruelty-- 7,a7 means-- 7i7 intentionally1 knowingly1 or recklessly harming or killing an animal1 including maiming1 mutilating1 torturing1 wounding1 poisoning1 engaging in animal fighting1 and sexually abusing an animal1 or attempting to do so2 or 7ii7 intentionally or knowingly neglecting or depriving an animal of necessary sustenance or shelter1 or attempting to do so2 and 7,b7 does not include any conduct that is-- 7i7 customary and normal veterinary1 agricultural husbandry1 or other animal management practice2 7ii7 the slaughter of animals for food2 7iii7 hunting1 trapping1 fishing1 a sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by ,federal law1 predator control1 or pest control2 7iv7 medical or scientific research2 7v7 necessary to protect the life of a person2 or 7vi7 performed as part of euthanizing an animal4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 a unit of local government2 7,c7 a ,state or local court 7including a juvenile court72 7,d7 an ,indian ,tribe2 or 7,e7 any other organization that has a documented history of effective work identifying1 intervening in1 preventing1 reducing1 or otherwise responding to animal cruelty1 or animal cruelty as related to interpersonal violence 7as determined by the ,secretary71 including-- 7i7 any organization that works directly with or on behalf of pets1 service animals1 emotional support animals1 or horses and collaborates with any organization referred to in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d71 including-- 7,i7 an animal shelter2 and 7,,ii7 an animal welfare organization2 7ii7 any organization that provides mental health services to perpetrators and survivors of crime2 7iii7 any organization that develops and provides training programs for law enforcement1 judges1 prosecutors1 other court personnel1 veterinarians1 or mental health professionals2 7iv7 a domestic violence and sexual assault victim service provider2 7v7 a domestic violence and sexual assault coalition2 7vi7 a child abuse victim service provider2 7vii7 a provider of services to families under the supervision of the courts or departments of child and family services2 7viii7 an elder abuse victim service provider2 7ix7 a community-based and culturally specific organization2 and 7x7 any other nonprofit1 nongovernmental organization4 #c4 ,study on animal cruelty1 underlying factors1 and future acts of human violence 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general1 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,justice1 shall carry out a study-- 7#a7 on the underlying factors that contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals2 and 7#b7 that analyzes acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of future violence against humans4 7b7 ,content of study ,in carrying out the study under subsection 7a71 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,justice shall-- 7#a7 specifically examine1 through a review of scientific literature1 original research1 and expert input1 as appropriate-- 7,a7 evidence-informed risk factors associated or correlated with individuals who commit acts of animal cruelty2 7,b7 whether certain acts of animal cruelty can be correlated with certain evidence-informed risk factors 7such as whether the acts of animal torturing1 tormenting1 mutilation1 maiming1 poisoning1 organized abuse1 such as animal fighting1 sexual abuse1 abandonment1 or neglect1 are associated with the same or different evidence-informed risk factors72 7,c7 whether certain acts of animal cruelty demonstrate a tendency or likelihood to commit a future act of violence against humans2 7,d7 the types of violence against humans most commonly associated with certain acts of animal cruelty 7such as domestic violence and assault72 and 7,e7 recommendations of areas in which future research on animal cruelty is needed2 and 7#b7 develop best practices for-- 7,a7 early interventions that prevent acts of animal cruelty2 and 7,b7 interventions with individuals who have committed acts of animal cruelty to prevent future acts of violence4 7c7 ,recommendations ,the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,justice shall submit to ,congress a report containing the specific policy recommendations1 based on the study conducted under this section1 for legislative and regulatory action at the ,federal1 ,state1 and local levels to-- 7#a7 address the evidence-informed risk factors that may contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals2 and 7#b7 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 animals4 #d4 ,stop future violence grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general is authorized to establish a grant program to provide assistance to eligible entities to develop and strengthen effective detection strategies1 and early intervention or diversion resources1 to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate offenders4 7b7 ,use of funds ,a grant awarded under this section may be used to provide personnel1 training1 technical assistance1 data collection1 and other resources for the apprehension1 prosecution1 adjudication1 and mental and behavioral health treatment of persons committing acts of animal cruelty1 for the rehabilitation of perpetrators and the prevention of future acts of animal cruelty or violence against humans1 and specifically1 for the purposes of-- 7#a7 training law enforcement officers1 judges1 other court personnel1 prosecutors1 and mental health professionals to more effectively identify and respond to acts of animal cruelty2 7#b7 developing1 training1 or expanding units of law enforcement officers1 judges1 other court personnel1 prosecutors1 and mental health professionals specifically addressing acts of animal cruelty2 7#c7 developing and implementing more effective police1 court1 prosecution1 mental health1 and early intervention policies1 protocols1 orders1 and services specifically devoted to preventing1 identifying1 and responding to acts of animal cruelty2 and 7#d7 developing1 installing1 or expanding data collection and communication systems1 including computerized systems1 linking police1 prosecutors1 and courts1 or for the purpose of identifying1 classifying1 and tracking arrests1 protection orders1 violations of protection orders1 prosecutions1 and convictions for acts of animal cruelty4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated-- 7#a7 for the purposes of carrying out section #c1 #b1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended2 and 7#b7 for the purposes of carrying out section #d1 #b1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4