Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012

Original

passedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

30 November 2011

Last action

26 April 2012 · Floor

Status

Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 68 - 31. Record Vote Number: 87.

Summary

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions under such Act, including to define: (1) "culturally specific services" to mean community-based services that offer culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities, and (2) "child" to mean a person who is under 11 years of age and "youth" to mean a person who is 11 to 24 years old. Modifies or expands grant conditions under such Act, including requirements relating to nondisclosure of personally identifying information or other client information, information sharing between grantees and subgrantees, civil rights and nondiscrimination, audits, and nonprofit organizations. Requires the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a biennial conferral process with state and tribal coalitions, technical assistance providers, and other key stakeholders on the administration of grants and related matters. Title I: Enhancing Judicial and Law Enforcement Tools to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand services for sexual assault victims, including male victims, under the grant programs for combatting violent crimes against women (STOP grants) and for encouraging arrest policies and enforcing protection orders for sexual assault victims. Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 to expand the availability of competent pro bono legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Revises the grant programs for supporting families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to such families and to train court personnel in assisting such families. Extends through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the training of probation and parole officers to manage sex offenders, and (2) the Court-Appointed Special Advocate program. Amends the federal criminal code with respect to the crime of stalking to prohibit the use of any interactive computer or electronic communication service to stalk victims. Revises and reauthorizes through FY2016 the grant program for outreach and services to underserved populations. Title II: Improving Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking - Amends VAWA to extend through FY2016 grant programs to: (1) assist states, Indian tribes, and territories to establish, maintain, and expand rape crisis centers and other programs to assist victims of sexual assault; and (2) assist victims of domestic violence and other sexual assault crimes in rural areas. Amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to extend through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for grants to end violence against women with disabilities and women in later life. Title III: Services, Protection, and Justice for Young Victims of Violence - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for grants for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers. Amends VAWA to replace certain grant programs for the protection of young victims of violent crimes with a program requiring the Attorney General to award grants to enhance the safety of youth and children who are victims of, or exposed to, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and to prevent future violence. Amends the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 to expand the requirements for the grant program to combat violent crimes on campuses. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the requirements for disclosure of campus security policies and crime statistics by institutions of higher education to require disclosure of disciplinary proceedings and procedures to protect the confidentiality of crime victims. Title IV: Violence Reduction Practices - Authorizes appropriations for grants through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support research to examine prevention and intervention programs to further the understanding of sexual and domestic violence by and against adults, youth, and children. Amends VAWA to authorize the Attorney General to award grants to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by taking a comprehensive approach that focuses on youth, children exposed to violence, and men as leaders and influencers of social norms. Title V: Strengthening the Healthcare System's Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize, revise, and consolidate grant programs that address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by developing or enhancing and implementing: (1) interdisciplinary training for health professionals, public health staff, and allied health professionals; (2) education programs for health profession students to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (3) comprehensive statewide strategies to improve the response of clinics, public health facilities, hospitals, and other health settings to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Title VI: Safe Homes for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking - Amends VAWA with respect to housing rights of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Prohibits denial or termination of housing assistance on the basis of being such a victim under specified federal housing programs, including the low-income housing tax credit program, if the applicant or tenant otherwise qualifies for such admission, assistance, participation, or occupancy. Prohibits denial of assistance, tenancy, or occupancy rights to assisted housing based solely on certain criminal activity directly related to domestic violence engaged in by a member of the individual's household or by any guest or other person under the individual's control, if the tenant or an immediate family member is the victim or threatened victim. Requires each owner or manager of housing assisted under a covered program to adopt an emergency transfer policy for tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish policies and procedures under which a victim requesting such a transfer may receive section 8 (voucher program) assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937. Makes conforming amendments to the United States Housing Act of 1937. Revises eligibility requirements for transitional housing assistance grants for child victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to specify that any victims are eligible. Decreases the authorization of appropriations for such grants for FY2012-FY2016. Decreases the authorization of appropriations for FY2012-FY2016 also for: (1)  collaborative grants to increase the long-term stability of victims, and (2) grants to combat violence against women in public and assisted housing. Title VII: Economic Security for Victims of Violence - Amends VAWA to extend through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for grants to eligible nonprofit nongovernmental entities or tribal organizations for a national resource center on workplace responses to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence. Title VIII: Protection of Battered Immigrants - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of nonimmigrant U-visa (victims of certain crimes) to include victims of dating violence and stalking. Makes the derivative beneficiary (child) of a deceased alien who was a self-petitioner under VAWA eligible for lawful permanent resident status under such alien's petition. Excludes from the public charge bar to admission an alien who is: (1) a VAWA self-petitioner, (2) a U-visa applicant, or (3) a battered spouse or child. Revises U-visa provisions regarding: (1) petition requirements, and (2) age determinations of children. Increases the annual number of U-visas. Extends the conditions under which the waiver of the two-year waiting period for permanent resident status application may be granted to a battered alien spouse. Expands the scope of criminal-related information that must be disclosed by a U.S. citizen petitioning for a nonimmigrant K-visa (alien fiancee or fiance). Amends the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) conduct a background check of the National Crime Information Center's Protection Order Database on each K-visa petitioner, and (2) include any appropriate information in the criminal background information provided to the alien fiance/fiancee. Prohibits an international marriage broker from providing any individual or entity with information about an individual under the age of 18. Requires a broker to obtain a valid copy of each foreign national client's birth certificate or other official proof of age document. Establishes criminal penalties for specified broker violations. Amends the the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 to permit U- and T-visa (victims of human trafficking) holders in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to count their time physically present in the Commonwealth toward the three-year continuous U.S. presence required for adjustment to permanent resident status. Title IX: Safety for Indian Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to direct a portion of certain grants to combat violent crime against American Indian women toward: (1) sex trafficking, (2) services for youthful victims, and (3) legislation and policies effective in combating such crime. Gives Indian tribes criminal jurisdiction over domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protective orders that occur on their lands. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to Indian tribes to assist them in exercising such jurisdiction. Gives Indian courts civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders. Alters federal assault penalties to: (1) cover domestic violence, dating violence, and attempts to commit sexual abuse; and (2) apply them to individuals in Indian country. Amends the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 to require the National Institute of Justice to include sex trafficking in its study of violence against Indian women. Title X: Other Matters - Amends the federal criminal code to expand sexual abuse provisions involving a ward in official detention and any person who has supervisory or custodial authority over such ward and who knowingly engages or attempts to engage in a sexual act with such ward.  Extends the period during which the prohibition against sexual abuse applies to: (1) during or after the arrest of the ward; (2) after release pretrial; (3) while on bail, probation, supervised release, or parole; or (4) after release.  Allow prosecutions for sexual abuse of a ward if it occurs in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or if the ward was under the professional custodial, supervisory, or disciplinary control or authority of the person engaging or attempting to engage in a sexual act.  Enhances criminal penalties for criminal civil rights violations involving sexual abuse. Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 to prohibit the commission of a sexual act in custodial settings.  Directs the DHS Secretary to publish a final rule adopting  national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of rapes and sexual assaults in detention facilities for aliens detained for a violation of U.S. immigration laws. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a similar final rule for the protection of unaccompanied alien children in custodial facilities.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

30 November 2011
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
30 November 2011
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8071)
Source: IntroReferral
30 November 2011
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
2 February 2012
Reported
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
7 February 2012
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 312.
Source: Calendars
7 February 2012
Reported
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
7 February 2012
Reported
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
12 March 2012
Floor
By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 112-153. Minority views filed.
Source: Floor
12 March 2012
Committee
By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 112-153. Minority views filed.
Source: Committee
17 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S2370)
Source: Floor
18 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2457-2562)
Source: Floor
19 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2519-2538)
Source: Floor
23 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2560-2568, S2579-2585, S2587-2592)
Source: Floor
24 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2615-2616, S2630-2634)
Source: Floor
25 April 2012
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2664-2683)
Source: Floor
26 April 2012
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 68 - 31. Record Vote Number: 87.
Source: Floor
26 April 2012
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2745-2757, S2761-2799)
Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Engrossed in Senate · 26 April 2012 · Official file
Reported to Senate · 7 February 2012 · Official file
Introduced in Senate · 30 November 2011 · Official file

Documents

9 official files

Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 April 2012
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 April 2012
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 26 April 2012
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 7 February 2012
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 7 February 2012
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 7 February 2012
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 30 November 2011
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 30 November 2011
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 30 November 2011
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Related records

related to → Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012
related to → Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012
related to → SMART Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Act of 2011
related to → Domestic Violence Judicial Support Act of 2012
related to → SAVE Native Women Act
related to → Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012
related to → Housing Rights for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence Act of 2011
related to → SMART Prevention Act of 2011
related to ← Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1925
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/112/s/1925
us · 112-s-1925 · source updated 10 August 2026