[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1959 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1959

To expand and improve the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program to 
   ensure legal assistance is provided for survivors in proceedings 
    related to domestic violence and sexual assault, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 25, 2019

  Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Ms. Harris) introduced the following 
    bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To expand and improve the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program to 
   ensure legal assistance is provided for survivors in proceedings 
    related to domestic violence and sexual assault, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Ensuring Representation for 
Survivors Act''.

SEC. 2. ENSURING ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO 
              DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    Section 1201 of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (34 U.S.C. 
20121) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Grants to States To Ensure Access to Legal Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--In each fiscal year, the Attorney 
        General shall award to each State submitting an application 
        under paragraph (3) a grant in an amount equal to .5 percent of 
        the total amount appropriated under subsection (g) for the 
        fiscal year, to be used to provide legal assistance to 
        survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and 
        sexual assault, with the goal of all survivors of domestic 
        violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault 
        receiving legal assistance.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any funds received by a State 
                under this subsection shall be distributed by the State 
                to public or private entities within the State to 
                implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects 
                to provide legal assistance, including pro bono 
                representation and legal advocacy, to help survivors of 
                domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual 
                assault--
                            ``(i) assert their rights as victims in a 
                        criminal proceeding, other than prosecution, 
                        directly related to the victimization, or 
                        otherwise protect their safety, privacy, or 
                        other interests as victims in such proceedings;
                            ``(ii) initiate or respond to motions to 
                        vacate or expunge a conviction, or similar 
                        actions, where the jurisdiction permits such a 
                        legal action based on a person's being a crime 
                        victim; and
                            ``(iii) other legal actions, other than 
                        tort actions, which, in the civil context, are 
                        reasonably necessary as a direct result of the 
                        victimization, such as--
                                    ``(I) civil legal assistance with 
                                divorce, child custody, child welfare, 
                                and support proceedings with 
                                corresponding enforcement;
                                    ``(II) assistance with and 
                                representation at proceedings for 
                                protective orders, restraining orders, 
                                or other stay-away orders;
                                    ``(III) assistance with contract, 
                                housing, employment, education, 
                                healthcare, benefits, and privacy 
                                matters; and
                                    ``(IV) intervention with creditors, 
                                law enforcement officers, and other 
                                entities on behalf of survivors of 
                                identity theft and financial fraud.
                    ``(B) Eligibility.--A public or private entity 
                seeking distribution of grant funds received by a State 
                under this subsection shall meet the eligibility 
                requirements described in subsection (d).
            ``(3) Application.--Each State seeking a grant under this 
        subsection shall submit an application to the Attorney General 
        at such time and in such manner as the Attorney General may 
        reasonably require.''; and
            (3) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``$57,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018'' and 
        inserting ``$80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
        2024''.
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