[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2382 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2382

To promote the improvement of information on, and protections against, 
                          child sexual abuse.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 1999

  Mr. Ney (for himself and Mr. Oxley) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To promote the improvement of information on, and protections against, 
                          child sexual abuse.

    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 ``Child Abuse Reform and Enforcement 
Act of 1999'' or ``CARE Act of 1999''.

    TITLE I--WITHHOLDING AND REDISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN STATE CHILD 
                            PROTECTION FUNDS

SEC. 101. WITHHOLDING AND REDISTRIBUTION OF STATE FUNDS.

    (a) Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.--Beginning 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services shall reduce, by 25 percent, the allocation to a 
State for a fiscal year under title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act of 1974 that does not meet each of the requirements of 
title II of this Act.
    (b) National Child Protection Act of 1993.--Beginning 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall 
reduce, by 25 percent, amounts under a grant under section 4(b) of the 
National Child Protection Act of 1993 to a State for a fiscal year that 
does not meet each of the requirements of title II of this Act.
    (c) Redistribution of Funds.--The Attorney General shall, using 
funds withheld under this section and amounts appropriated under 
section 102, provide grants to States that meet the requirements of 
title II of this Act. A grant made under this subsection shall be 
used--
            (1) for the computerization of data and criminal history 
        files for purposes of title II of this Act;
            (2) for the improvement of existing data and computerized 
        criminal history files for purposes of title II of this Act; 
        and
            (3) to assist the State in the transmittal of data and 
        criminal records to, or the indexing of data and criminal 
        history record in, the national data and criminal history 
        systems for purposes of title II of this Act.

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING GRANTS 
              FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE CRIME INFORMATION.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for additional grants under 
section 101(c) $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 
2003.

     TITLE II--CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PROTECTION AND SENTENCING REFORM

SEC. 201. REQUIREMENT TO EQUALIZE SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS FOR 
              INTRAFAMILIAL AND EXTRAFAMILIAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

    (a) State Study of Laws Regarding Intrafamilial and Extrafamilial 
Child Sexual Abuse.--A State meets the requirements of this subsection 
if, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
State--
            (1) has studied the laws in the State that apply to 
        intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of children; and
            (2) has examined, at a minimum--
                    (A) issues concerning differences in laws 
                applicable to intrafamilial and extrafamilial child 
                sexual abuse;
                    (B) issues concerning disparities in charging and 
                sentencing perpetrators of child sexual abuse, 
                resulting from differences in applicable laws; and
                    (C) issues concerning legislative actions necessary 
                to equalize charging and sentencing of perpetrators of 
                sexual abuse without regard to familial relationship of 
                perpetrator to child victim.
    (b) Report to the Attorney General.--A State meets the requirements 
of this subsection if the State submits to the Attorney General a 
report that contains the results of the study conducted under 
subsection (a).
    (c) Legislative Actions To Equalize Sentencing Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        State meets the requirements of this subsection if, not later 
        than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the State 
        has implemented legislative actions necessary to equalize 
        charging and sentencing of perpetrators of sexual abuse without 
        regard to familial relationship of perpetrator to child victim.
            (2) Exception.--The Attorney General may provide for an 
        extension of the 1-year time requirement in paragraph (1) for 
        any State if the Attorney General determines that State 
        legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is 
        required to meet the additional requirements imposed by this 
        Act.

SEC. 202. REQUIREMENT TO GATHER INFORMATION ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF 
              CHILDREN.

    A State meets the requirements of this section if the State--
            (1) compiles and analyzes data relating to intrafamilial 
        and extrafamilial sexual abuse of children;
            (2) promotes regulations requiring the gathering of such 
        data by State courts and State agencies for compilation and 
        analysis purposes;
            (3) provides, on an annual basis, to the Attorney General, 
        the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Bureau of 
        Justice Statistics a report containing the data referred to in 
        paragraph (1) and a description of the regulations referred to 
        in paragraph (2).
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