[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 144 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 144

 To establish a task force to recommend a uniform strategy to protect 
                      women against violent crime.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 1995

 Mr. Solomon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a task force to recommend a uniform strategy to protect 
                      women against violent crime.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Against Women Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Attorney General shall establish a task force to be known as the 
``National Task Force on Violence Against Women'' (referred to in this 
Act as the ``task force'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES.

    (a) General Purpose of Task Force.--The task force shall develop a 
uniform Federal, State, and local law enforcement strategy aimed at 
protecting women against violent crime, punishing persons who commit 
such crimes, and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes.
    (b) Duties of Task Force.--The task force shall perform such 
functions as the Attorney General deems appropriate to carry out the 
purposes of the task force, including--
            (1) considering the reports of past Federal and State task 
        forces or commissions on violent crime, family violence, and 
        crime victims, including the President's Task Force on Victims 
        of Crime (1982), the Attorney General's Task Force on Family 
        Violence (1984), and the task forces and commissions 
        established by the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, 
        Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 
        Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, 
        Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming;
            (2) developing strategies for Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement designated to protect women against violent crime, 
        and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such crime;
            (3) evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration, 
        and release of violent offenders against women, and making 
        recommendations designated to ensure that such offenders 
        receive appropriate punishment; and
            (4) evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of 
        violent crime against women within the criminal justice system, 
        and making recommendations designed to improve such treatment.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--The task force shall consist of up to 10 members, 
who shall be appointed by the Attorney General not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. The Attorney General shall 
ensure that the task force includes representatives of State and local 
law enforcement, the State and local judiciary, and groups dedicated to 
protecting the rights of victims.
    (b) Chairperson.--The Attorney General or a designee shall serve as 
the chairperson of the task force.

SEC. 5. PAY.

    (a) No Additional Compensation.--Members of the task force who are 
officers or employees of a governmental agency shall receive no 
additional compensation by reason of their service on the task force.
    (b) Per Diem.--While away from their homes or regular places of 
business in the performance of duties for the task force, members of 
the task force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
under sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

    (a) Executive Director.--
              (1) Appointment.--The task force shall have an Executive 
        Director who shall be appointed by the Attorney General not 
        later than 30 days after the task force is fully constituted 
        under subsection (c).
            (2) Compensation.--The Executive Director shall be 
        compensated at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of the 
        basic pay payable under GS-15 of the General Schedule as 
        contained in title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Staff.--With the approval of the task force, the Executive 
Director may appoint not more than 12 individuals to serve as staff and 
fix the compensation of such additional personnel as the Executive 
Director considers necessary to carry out the duties of the task force.
    (c) Applicability of Civil Service Laws.--The Executive Director 
and the additional personnel of the task force appointed under 
paragraph (2) may be appointed without regard to the provisions of 
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF TASK FORCE.

    (a) Hearings.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, the 
task force may conduct such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the task 
force considers appropriate. The task force may administer oaths before 
the task force.
    (b) Delegation.--Any member or employee of the task force may, if 
authorized by the task force, take any action that the task force is 
authorized to take under this section.
    (c) Access to Information.--The task force may secure directly from 
any executive department or agency such information as may be necessary 
to enable the task force to carry out this section, to the extent 
access to such information is permitted by law.
    (d) Mail.--The task force may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.

SEC. 8. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date on which the task force is 
fully constituted under subsection (c), the Attorney General shall 
submit a detailed report to the Congress on the findings and 
recommendations of the task force.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 to carry out the 
purposes of this Act.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

    The task force shall cease to exist 30 days after the date on which 
the Attorney General's report is submitted under section 9.
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