Emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance grant program

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Secretary), acting in consultation with the Office of the Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall award grants under this section to eligible entities to carry out programs to provide the assistance described in subsection (c) with respect to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the pets of such victims. (b)

Application

(1)

In general

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including— (A)a description of the activities for which a grant under this section is sought; (B)such assurances as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure compliance by the entity with the requirements of this section; and (C)a certification that the entity, before engaging with any individual domestic violence victim, will disclose to the victim any mandatory duty of the entity to report instances of abuse and neglect (including instances of abuse and neglect of pets). (2)

Additional requirements

In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), each application submitted by an eligible entity under that paragraph shall— (A)not include proposals for any activities that may compromise the safety of a domestic violence victim, including— (i)background checks of domestic violence victims; or (ii)clinical evaluations to determine the eligibility of such a victim for support services; (B)not include proposals that would require mandatory services for victims or that a victim obtain a protective order in order to receive proposed services; and (C)reflect the eligible entity’s understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (3)

Rules of construction

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require— (A)domestic violence victims to participate in the criminal justice system in order to receive services; or (B)eligible entities receiving a grant under this section to breach client confidentiality. (c)

Use of funds

Grants awarded under this section may only be used for programs that provide— (1)emergency and transitional shelter and housing assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, including assistance with respect to any construction or operating expenses of newly developed or existing emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing (regardless of whether such shelter and housing is co-located at a victim service provider or within the community); (2)short-term shelter and housing assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, including assistance with respect to expenses incurred for the temporary shelter, housing, boarding, or fostering of the pets of domestic violence victims and other expenses that are incidental to securing the safety of such a pet during the sheltering, housing, or relocation of such victims; (3)support services designed to enable a domestic violence victim who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to— (A)locate and secure— (i)safe housing with the victim’s pet; or (ii)safe accommodations for the victim’s pet; or (B)provide the victim with pet-related services, such as pet transportation, pet care services, and other assistance; or (4)for the training of relevant stakeholders on— (A)the link between domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the abuse and neglect of pets; (B)the needs of domestic violence victims; (C)best practices for providing support services to such victims; (D)best practices for providing such victims with referrals to victims’ services; and (E)the importance of confidentiality. (d)

Grant conditions

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall, as a condition of such receipt, agree— (1)to be bound by the nondisclosure of confidential information requirements of section 40002(b)(2) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2)); and (2)that the entity shall not condition the receipt of support, housing, or other benefits provided pursuant to this section on the participation of domestic violence victims in any or all of the support services offered to such victims through a program carried out by the entity using grant funds. (e)

Duration of assistance provided to victims

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), assistance provided with respect to a pet of a domestic violence victim using grant funds awarded under this section shall be provided for a period of not more than 24 months. (2)

Extension

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may extend the 24-month period referred to in paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 6 months in the case of a domestic violence victim who— (A)has made a good faith effort to acquire permanent housing for the victim’s pet during that 24-month period; and (B)has been unable to acquire such permanent housing within that period. (f)

Report to the Secretary

Not later than 1 year after the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section and each year thereafter, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains, with respect to assistance provided by the entity to domestic violence victims with pets using grant funds received under this section, information on— (1)the number of domestic violence victims with pets provided such assistance; and (2)the purpose, amount, type of, and duration of such assistance. (g)

Report to Congress

(1)

Reporting requirement

Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the information contained in the reports submitted under subsection (f). (2)

Availability of report

The Secretary shall transmit a copy of the report submitted under paragraph (1) to— (A)the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice; (B)the Office of Community Planning and Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (C)the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services. (h)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. (2)

Limitation

Of the amount made available under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may be used for evaluation, monitoring, salaries, and administrative expenses. (i)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Domestic violence victim defined

The term domestic violence victim means a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means— (A)a State; (B)a unit of local government; (C)an Indian tribe; or (D)any other organization that has a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (as determined by the Secretary), including— (i)a domestic violence and sexual assault victim service provider; (ii)a domestic violence and sexual assault coalition; (iii)a community-based and culturally specific organization; (iv)any other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization; and (v)any organization that works directly with pets and collaborates with any organization referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), including— (I)an animal shelter; and (II)an animal welfare organization. (3)

Pet

The term pet means a domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes. (4)

Other terms

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, terms used in this section shall have the meaning given such terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)).