In addition, it amends the full faith and credit provision in the original Act to prohibit registration as a prerequisite to enforcement of out-of-state orders, and to prohibit notification of a batterer without the victim's consent when an out-of-state order is registered in a new jurisdiction. As a condition of funding, recipients of STOP and Pro-Arrest grants must ensure filing and service of protection orders at no cost to the victim.
Sec. 102. Enhancing the Role of Courts in Combating Violence Against Women – This section funds the training and education of court personnel, technical assistance, and technological improvements. It also amends STOP and Pro-Arrest grants to make state and local courts expressly eligible for funding and dedicates five percent of states' STOP grants to courts.
Sec. 103. STOP (Services and Training for Officers and Prosecutors) Grants Reauthorization – Authorized at $185 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $206.75 million, including $28 million earmarked for civil legal assistance). This section reauthorizes grants to bring police and prosecutors in close collaboration with victim services providers. It preserves VAWA's original allocations of states' STOP grants (25 percent to police and 25 percent to prosecutors), but increases grants to victim services to 30 percent (from 25 percent), and allocates 5 percent allocated to state courts. Five percent of total funds available are set-aside for State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, and the allocation for Indian tribes is increased to 5 percent (up from 4 percent in the original Act).
Sec. 104. Pro-Arrest Grants Reauthorization – Authorized at $65 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $34 million). This section extends grants to develop and strengthen programs and policies that mandate and encourage police officers to arrest abusers who commit acts of violence or violate protection orders.
Sec. 105. Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Grants Reauthorization – Authorized at $40 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $25 million). This section extends direct grants to state and local governments for services in rural areas.
Sec. 106. National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants Reauthorization – Authorized at $3 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 1998 appropriation was $2.75 million). This section extends grant programs that help state and local governments improve databases dealing with stalking and domestic violence.
Sec. 107. Clarify Enforcement to End Interstate Battery/Stalking – This section clarifies federal jurisdiction to reach persons crossing state lines (including foreign travel), and expands federal jurisdiction to include battery used to facilitate the interstate movement of victims. This section also makes the nature of harm uniform for domestic violence, stalking, and interstate travel offenses, and clarifies the "Interstate Violation of Protection Order" section.
Sec. 108. Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus – Authorized at $10 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 STOP grant appropriation included a $10 million earmarked for this use). This section reauthorizes grants for on-campus security, education, training, and victim services to combat violence against women on college campuses. It also amends the definition of "domestic violence" to include dating relationships for the purpose of this program only. [Note: dating relationships are not covered under the remainder of this bill].
Sec. 202. Expanded Shelter for Battered Women and Their Children – Authorized at $175 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $101.5 million). This section reauthorizes Department of Health and Human Services programs that help communities provide shelter to battered individuals and their children.
Sec. 203. Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence – Authorized at $25 million/year for 2001, 2002, and 2003, and $30 million/year for 2004 and 2005. This section allows the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants providing short-term housing assistance and support services to individuals and their dependents who are homeless, in need of transitional housing, or other housing assistance as a result of domestic violence. These services are authorized when emergency shelter services are unavailable or insufficient.
Sec. 204. National Domestic Violence Hotline – Authorized at $2 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $2 million). This section reauthorizes the National Domestic Violence Hotline established under the original Violence Against Women Act and makes it a source of civil legal assistance information. This section also requires annual reports on the Hotline's operation.
Sec. 205. Federal Victims Counselors Grants Reauthorization – Authorized at $1 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 1998 appropriation was $1_million). This section extends programs supporting U.S. Attorney offices to hire counselors to assist victims and witnesses in prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
Sec. 206. Study of State Laws Regarding Insurance Discrimination Against Victims of Violence Against Women – This section requires the Attorney General to conduct a national study identifying state laws that address insurance discrimination against victims of domestic violence, and submit recommendations to Congress based on the findings.
Sec. 207. Study of Workplace Effects from Violence Against Women – This section requires the Attorney General to conduct a national survey of programs demonstrating appropriate workplace responses to victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, and submit recommendations to Congress.
Sec. 208. Study of Unemployment Compensation For Victims of Violence Against Women – This section requires the Attorney General to conduct a national study to identify the impact of state unemployment compensation laws on victims of domestic violence who are separated from their employment as a direct result of violence, and submit recommendations to Congress.
Sec. 209. Enhancing Protections for Older Women from Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault – This section allows STOP grants, Pro-Arrest grants, and shelter programs to be used to develop policies and initiatives that address the needs of older individuals who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Sec. 302. Reauthorization of Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless & Street Youth – Authorized at $22 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $15 million). This section extends the Department of Health and Human Services programs that provide assistance to runaways and homeless youth who are at risk or victims of abuse.
Sec. 303. Reauthorization of Victims of Child Abuse Act Grants – Authorized at $12 million/year for the special advocate program, $2.3 million/year for the judicial personnel training program, and $1_million/year for televised testimony through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriations were $10 million, $2.3 million, and $1 million respectively). This section extends grant programs geared towards assisting children who are victims of abuse, such as the court-appointed special advocate program, child abuse training for judicial personnel and practitioners, and grants for the televised testimony of children.
Sec. 304. Report on Parental Kidnapping Laws – Authorized at $200,000 for fiscal year 2001. This section requires the Attorney General to study the Parental Kidnapping Act and custody provisions in protection orders where domestic violence is a factor, in order to submit recommendations for the modification of child custody laws. This section also clarifies when emergency jurisdiction may be granted.
Sec. 402. Rape Prevention and Education Program Reauthorization – Authorized at $50 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $45 million). This section reauthorizes the Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Grant program, which includes education for college students and funding to continue the National Resource Center on Sexual Assault at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sec. 403. Education and Training to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities – Authorized at $5 million/year through 2005. This section establishes a new Justice Department program to educate and provide technical assistance to service providers in order to better meet the needs of disabled individuals who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Sec. 404. Reauthorization of Community Initiatives to Prevent Domestic Violence – Authorized at $5 million/year through 2005 (fiscal year 2000 appropriation was $6_million). This section reauthorizes grants for collaborative community projects targeted towards intervention and the prevention of domestic violence.
Sec. 405. Development of Research Agenda Identified under the Violence Against Women Act - Authorized at such amounts necessary to carry out this section. This section requires the Attorney General, in cooperation with other organizations, to implement a research agenda based on the recommendations in the National Academy of Sciences report, "Understanding Violence Against Women."
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