Family Violence
·	Summary
·	Facts & Figures
Legislation
·	Publications
·	Programs
·	Training & Technical Assistance
·	Grants & Funding
·	Related Resources

Family Violence - Legislation

This section presents a sample of links to online Federal and State legislation and testimony.

Legislation Key Bills in Congress

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Benchcard Addressing Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence and Federal Firearms Prohibitions
Persons who have been convicted of a qualifying misdemeanor crime of domestic violence generally are prohibited under Federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition, or shipping or transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Benchcard Addressing Protection Orders and Federal Firearms Prohibitions
Persons subject to a qualifying protection order under Federal law are generally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition, or shipping or transporting a firearm or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families
This Act amends the program entitled Promoting Safe and Stable Families under title IV-B, subpart 2 of the Social Security Act and provide new authority to support programs for mentoring children of incarcerated parents. It would also amend the Foster Care Independent Living program under title IV-E of that act to provide for educational and training vouchers for youth aging out of foster care.

Violence Against Women Act of 2000
The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386), enacted on October 28, 2000, improves legal tools and programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It also reauthorizes critical grant programs created by the original Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation, establishes new programs, and strengthens Federal laws.

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
This law contains three subsections entitled National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction, Protections for Battered Immigrant Women and Children, and Safe Homes for Women.

H.R.394: Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act
This bill serves to restore the Federal civil remedy for crimes of violence motivated by gender.

H.R.1267: Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Act of 2003
This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act, the Social Security Act, and chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to provide research on the health impact and prevention of family violence; to provide training for health care professionals, behavioral and public health staff, and community health centers regarding identification and treatment for families experiencing family violence; and to provide coverage for domestic violence identification and treatment under the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program, the Medicaid Program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and the Community Health Centers Program.

H.R.1895: Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act
This bill would amend Federal crime grant programs relating to domestic violence to encourage States and localities to implement gun confiscation policies, reform stalking laws, create integrated domestic violence courts, and hire additional personnel for entering protection orders, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3576: Leave No Abused or Neglected Child Behind Act
This bill would improve outcomes for vulnerable children by investing in families, improving accountability in the child welfare system, and finding safe, stable, and permanent homes for foster children.

S. 2236: Domestic Violence Screening and Services Act of 2002
This act would amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide coverage for domestic violence screening and treatment, to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to improve the response of health care systems to domestic violence, and to train health care providers and federally qualified health centers regarding screening, identification, and treatment for families experiencing domestic violence.

S. 2204: Women in Trauma Act of 2002
This act would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve treatment for the mental health and substance abuse needs of women with histories of trauma, including domestic and sexual violence.

S. 2203: Counseling in Shelters Act of 2002
This act would provide grants for mental health and substance abuse services for women and children who have been victims of domestic or sexual violence.

S. 2009: Family Violence Prevention Act of 2002
This act would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide services for the prevention of family violence.

S. 1503: Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments Act of 2001
This act would extend and amend the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program under subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with new authority to support programs mentoring children of incarcerated parents, and to amend the Foster Care Independent Living Program under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide for educational and training vouchers for youth aging out of foster care.

S. 1483: Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Act
This act would amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to reduce the impact of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking on the lives of youth and children and to provide appropriate services for children and youth experiencing or exposed to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

S. 1249: Victim's Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA)
This act would promote the economic security and safety of victims of domestic and sexual violence.

S. 518: Domestic Violence Identification and Referral Act of 2001
This act would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the training of health profession students with regard to the identification and referral of victims of domestic violence.

H.R. 4757: Our Lady of Peace Act of 2002
This act would improve the Nation's instant criminal background check system.

H.R. 4655: Safety and Self-Sufficiency Act of 2002
This act would ensure that all States address domestic and sexual violence in their Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs.

H.R. 4032: Domestic Violence Screening and Treatment Act of 2002
This act would amend titles V and XIX of the Social Security Act and chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to provide coverage for domestic violence screening and treatment under the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

H.R. 751: TANF Reauthorization Act of 2005
This act would reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs.

H.R. 2258: Women Immigrants Safe Harbor Act of 2001
This act would amend title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to provide for the eligibility of certain aliens suffering from domestic abuse for supplementary security income, food stamps, TANF, Medicaid, Social Service Block Grants, and certain other public benefit programs.

H.R. 75: Give a Kid a Chance Omnibus Mental Health Services Act of 2001
This act would amend the Public Health Service Act with regard to mental health services for children, adolescents, and their families.

Back to Top

Links from the NCJRS Web site to non-Federal sites do not constitute an endorsement by NCJRS or its sponsors. NCJRS is not responsible for the content or privacy policy of any off-site pages that are referenced, nor does NCJRS guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information. NCJRS is also not responsible for the use of, or results obtained from the use of, the information. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate the content and usefulness of information obtained from non-Federal sites.