[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 195 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7449-S7452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE ACT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018
Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 581, S. 2961.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2961) to reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims
of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, with an
amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Victims of Child Abuse Act
Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Section 211 of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2,000,000'' and
inserting ``3,300,000'';
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``improve positive outcomes for the
child,'' before ``and increase''; and
(B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``could be duplicated in
many jurisdictions throughout the country.'' and inserting
``have expanded dramatically throughout the United States;
and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) State chapters of children's advocacy center networks
are needed to--
``(A) assist local communities in coordinating their
multidisciplinary child abuse investigation, prosecution, and
intervention services; and
``(B) provide oversight of, and training and technical
assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed
programming.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 212 of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20302) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (6);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (7), (8), and (9)
as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7), respectively;
(3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking
``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) the term `State chapter' means a membership
organization that provides technical assistance, training,
coordination, grant administration, oversight, and support to
local children's advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams,
and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary
response to child abuse in the provision of evidence-informed
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic
interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim
advocacy.''.
(c) Regional Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 213 of
the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20303) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``with the Director and''
(B) by striking paragraph (2);
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(2) and (3), respectively;
(D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking
``and'' at the end;
(E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
(i) by inserting after ``mental health care professionals''
the following: ``, law enforcement officers, child protective
service workers, forensic interviewers, prosecutors, and
victim advocates,'';
(ii) by striking ``medical'' each place that term appears;
and
(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) collaborate with State chapters to provide training,
technical assistance, coordination, and oversight to--
``(A) local children's advocacy centers; and
``(B) communities that want to develop local children's
advocacy centers.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``, in coordination with the Director,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the prevention,
judicial handling, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
and'' and inserting ``multidisciplinary team investigation,
trauma-informed interventions, and evidence-informed
treatment,''; and
(iv) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``communities'' and inserting ``communities, local children's
advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, and State
chapters'';
(II) in clause (i), by inserting ``and expanding'' after
``developing'';
(III) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (x) as clauses
(iii) through (xi), respectively;
(IV) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) in promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in--
``(I) organizational support and development;
``(II) programmatic evaluation; and
``(III) financial oversight of Federal funding;'';
(V) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by striking ``a
freestanding facility where interviews of and services for
abused children can be provided'' and inserting ``child-
friendly facilities for the investigation of, assessment of,
and intervention in abuse''; and
(VI) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking
``multiple'' and inserting ``duplicative''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and interested
communities'' after ``advocacy centers'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``remedial counseling
to'' and inserting ``evidence-informed services for'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by striking
``multidisciplinary child abuse program'' and inserting
``children's advocacy center''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``, in
coordination with the Director,'';
(ii) by striking clause (iii); and
(iii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses
(iii) and (iv), respectively;
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, in coordination with
the Director,'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``and the Director''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Discontinuation of
funding.--'' and all that follows through ``Upon
discontinuation'' and inserting the following:
``Discontinuation of funding.--Upon discontinuation''; and
(5) by striking subsections (e) and (f).
(d) Local Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 214 of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20304) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with
the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, shall make
grants to--
``(1) develop and enhance multidisciplinary child abuse
investigations, intervention, and prosecution; and
``(2) promote the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in
programmatic evaluation and financial oversight of Federal
funding.'';
[[Page S7450]]
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Human
Trafficking and'' before ``Child Pornography'';
(B) by striking ``with the Director and''; and
(C) by inserting ``human trafficking and'' before ``child
pornography'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Director'' and inserting
``Administrator''; and
(ii) by striking ``this section'' and inserting
``subsections (a) and (b)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``social service'' and
inserting ``child protective service'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the `counseling
center' '' and inserting ``a `children's advocacy center' '';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``sexual and serious
physical abuse and neglect cases to the counseling center''
and inserting ``child abuse cases that meet designated
referral criteria to the children's advocacy center'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by striking ``investigative'' and inserting
``forensic''; and
(II) by striking ``social service'' and inserting ``child
protective service'';
(v) by striking subparagraph (E);
(vi) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (J) as
subparagraphs (E) through (I), respectively;
(vii) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking
``counseling center'' and inserting ``children's advocacy
center or an agency with which there is a linkage agreement
regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary child abuse
investigation, prosecution, and intervention services'';
(viii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking
``minimize the number of interviews that a child victim must
attend'' and inserting ``eliminate duplicative forensic
interviews with a child victim'';
(ix) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking
``multidisciplinary program'' and inserting ``children's
advocacy center'';
(x) in subparagraph (H), as so redesignated, by inserting
``intervention and'' before ``judicial proceedings''; and
(xi) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by striking
``Director'' and inserting ``Administrator'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``the Director'' and inserting ``the
Administrator''; and
(B) by striking ``both large and small States'' and
inserting ``all States that are eligible for such grants,
including large and small States,''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Grants to State Chapters for Assistance to Local
Children's Advocacy Centers.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Administrator shall ensure that a portion of the
grants is distributed to State chapters to enable State
chapters to provide technical assistance, training,
coordination, and oversight to other recipients of grants
under this section in providing evidence-informed
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic
interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim
advocacy.''.
(e) Grants for Specialized Technical Assistance and
Training Programs.--Section 214A of the Victims of Child
Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20305) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``to attorneys'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``to--
``(1) attorneys and other allied professionals instrumental
to the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in State or
Federal courts, for the purpose of improving the quality of
criminal prosecution of such cases; and
``(2) child abuse professionals instrumental to the
protection of children, intervention in child abuse cases,
and treatment of victims of child abuse, for the purpose of--
``(A) improving the quality of such protection,
intervention, and treatment; and
``(B) promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in
programmatic evaluation and financial oversight of Federal
funding.'';
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Grantee Organizations.--
``(1) Prosecutors.--An organization to which a grant is
made for specific training and technical assistance for
prosecutors under subsection (a)(1) shall be one that has--
``(A) a broad representation of attorneys who prosecute
criminal cases in State courts; and
``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and
technical assistance for prosecutors.
``(2) Child abuse professionals.--An organization to which
a grant is made for specific training and technical
assistance for child abuse professionals under subsection
(a)(2) shall be one that has--
``(A) a diverse portfolio of training and technical
resources for the diverse professionals responding to child
abuse, including a digital library to promote evidence-
informed practice; and
``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and
technical assistance for child abuse professionals,
especially law enforcement officers, child protective service
workers, prosecutors, forensic interviewers, medical
professionals, victim advocates, and mental health
professionals.''; and
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting after ``shall
require'' the following: ``, in the case of a grant made
under subsection (a)(1),''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 214B of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20306) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``sections 213 and 214''
and all that follows and inserting the following: ``sections
213 and 214, $19,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``section 214A'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``section 214A,
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
(g) Accountability.--Section 214C of the Victims of Child
Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20307) is amended--
(1) by striking ``All grants awarded'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) In General.--All grants awarded''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Reporting.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the
Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives a report that--
``(1) summarizes the efforts of the Administrator to
monitor and evaluate the regional children's advocacy program
activities under section 213(d);
``(2) describes--
``(A) the method by which amounts are allocated to grantees
and subgrantees under this subtitle, including to local
children's advocacy centers, State chapters, and regional
children's advocacy program centers; and
``(B) steps the Attorney General has taken to minimize
duplication and overlap in the awarding of amounts under this
subtitle; and
``(3) analyzes the extent to which both rural and urban
populations are served under the regional children's advocacy
program.''.
(h) Technical and Conforming Amendments Relating to Title
34, United States Code.--The Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 212(1) (34 U.S.C. 20302), by striking ``(42
U.S.C. 5611(b))'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11111(b))'';
(2) in section 214(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20304(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)'';
(3) in section 214A(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20305(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)'';
(4) in section 217(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20323(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)''; and
(5) in section 223(c) (34 U.S.C. 20333(c)), by striking
``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C.
11183, 11186)''.
SEC. 3. IMMUNITY PROTECTIONS FOR REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE.
(a) State Plans.--Section 106(b)(2)(B)(vii) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C.
5106a(b)(2)(B)(vii)) is amended to read as follows:
``(vii) provisions for immunity from civil or criminal
liability under State and local laws and regulations for
individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known
instances of child abuse or neglect, or who otherwise provide
information or assistance, including medical evaluations or
consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or
legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child
abuse or neglect;''.
(b) Federal Immunity.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any individual making a good faith report to appropriate
authorities of a suspected or known instance of child abuse
or neglect, or who otherwise, in good faith, provides
information or assistance, including medical evaluations or
consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or
legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child
abuse or neglect shall not be subject to civil liability or
criminal prosecution, under any Federal law, rising from
making such report or providing such information or
assistance.
(2) Presumption of good faith.--In a Federal civil action
or criminal prosecution brought against a person based on the
person's reporting a suspected or known instance of child
abuse or neglect, or providing information or assistance with
respect to such a report, as described in paragraph (1),
there shall be a presumption that the person acted in good
faith.
(3) Costs.--If the defendant prevails in a Federal civil
action described in paragraph (2), the court may award costs
and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defendant.
Mr. PERDUE. I ask unanimous consent that the Blunt amendment at the
desk be considered and agreed to; that the committee-reported
substitute amendment, as amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as
amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the
motion to reconsider be considered and made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 4074) was agreed to, as follows
(Purpose: To adjust the authorization of appropriations)
On page 28, line 3, strike ``$19,000,000'' and insert
``$16,000,000''.
On page 28, line 7, strike ``$6,000,000'' and insert
``$5,000,000''.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute, as
amended, was agreed to.
The bill (S. 2961), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 2961
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page S7451]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Victims of Child Abuse Act
Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Section 211 of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2,000,000'' and
inserting ``3,300,000'';
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``improve positive outcomes for the
child,'' before ``and increase''; and
(B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``could be duplicated in
many jurisdictions throughout the country.'' and inserting
``have expanded dramatically throughout the United States;
and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) State chapters of children's advocacy center networks
are needed to--
``(A) assist local communities in coordinating their
multidisciplinary child abuse investigation, prosecution, and
intervention services; and
``(B) provide oversight of, and training and technical
assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed
programming.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 212 of the Victims of Child Abuse
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20302) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (6);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (7), (8), and (9)
as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7), respectively;
(3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking
``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) the term `State chapter' means a membership
organization that provides technical assistance, training,
coordination, grant administration, oversight, and support to
local children's advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams,
and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary
response to child abuse in the provision of evidence-informed
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic
interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim
advocacy.''.
(c) Regional Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 213 of
the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20303) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``with the Director and''
(B) by striking paragraph (2);
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(2) and (3), respectively;
(D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking
``and'' at the end;
(E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
(i) by inserting after ``mental health care professionals''
the following: ``, law enforcement officers, child protective
service workers, forensic interviewers, prosecutors, and
victim advocates,'';
(ii) by striking ``medical'' each place that term appears;
and
(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) collaborate with State chapters to provide training,
technical assistance, coordination, and oversight to--
``(A) local children's advocacy centers; and
``(B) communities that want to develop local children's
advocacy centers.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``, in coordination with the Director,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the prevention,
judicial handling, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;
and'' and inserting ``multidisciplinary team investigation,
trauma-informed interventions, and evidence-informed
treatment,''; and
(iv) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``communities'' and inserting ``communities, local children's
advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, and State
chapters'';
(II) in clause (i), by inserting ``and expanding'' after
``developing'';
(III) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (x) as clauses
(iii) through (xi), respectively;
(IV) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) in promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in--
``(I) organizational support and development;
``(II) programmatic evaluation; and
``(III) financial oversight of Federal funding;'';
(V) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by striking ``a
freestanding facility where interviews of and services for
abused children can be provided'' and inserting ``child-
friendly facilities for the investigation of, assessment of,
and intervention in abuse''; and
(VI) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking
``multiple'' and inserting ``duplicative''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and interested
communities'' after ``advocacy centers'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``remedial counseling
to'' and inserting ``evidence-informed services for'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by striking
``multidisciplinary child abuse program'' and inserting
``children's advocacy center''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``, in
coordination with the Director,'';
(ii) by striking clause (iii); and
(iii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses
(iii) and (iv), respectively;
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, in coordination with
the Director,'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``and the Director''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Discontinuation of
funding.--'' and all that follows through ``Upon
discontinuation'' and inserting the following:
``Discontinuation of funding.--Upon discontinuation''; and
(5) by striking subsections (e) and (f).
(d) Local Children's Advocacy Centers.--Section 214 of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20304) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with
the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, shall make
grants to--
``(1) develop and enhance multidisciplinary child abuse
investigations, intervention, and prosecution; and
``(2) promote the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in
programmatic evaluation and financial oversight of Federal
funding.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Human
Trafficking and'' before ``Child Pornography'';
(B) by striking ``with the Director and''; and
(C) by inserting ``human trafficking and'' before ``child
pornography'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Director'' and inserting
``Administrator''; and
(ii) by striking ``this section'' and inserting
``subsections (a) and (b)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``social service'' and
inserting ``child protective service'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the `counseling
center' '' and inserting ``a `children's advocacy center' '';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``sexual and serious
physical abuse and neglect cases to the counseling center''
and inserting ``child abuse cases that meet designated
referral criteria to the children's advocacy center'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by striking ``investigative'' and inserting
``forensic''; and
(II) by striking ``social service'' and inserting ``child
protective service'';
(v) by striking subparagraph (E);
(vi) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (J) as
subparagraphs (E) through (I), respectively;
(vii) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking
``counseling center'' and inserting ``children's advocacy
center or an agency with which there is a linkage agreement
regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary child abuse
investigation, prosecution, and intervention services'';
(viii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking
``minimize the number of interviews that a child victim must
attend'' and inserting ``eliminate duplicative forensic
interviews with a child victim'';
(ix) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking
``multidisciplinary program'' and inserting ``children's
advocacy center'';
(x) in subparagraph (H), as so redesignated, by inserting
``intervention and'' before ``judicial proceedings''; and
(xi) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by striking
``Director'' and inserting ``Administrator'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``the Director'' and inserting ``the
Administrator''; and
(B) by striking ``both large and small States'' and
inserting ``all States that are eligible for such grants,
including large and small States,''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Grants to State Chapters for Assistance to Local
Children's Advocacy Centers.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Administrator shall ensure that a portion of the
grants is distributed to State chapters to enable State
chapters to provide technical assistance, training,
coordination, and oversight to other recipients of grants
under this section in providing evidence-informed
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic
interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim
advocacy.''.
(e) Grants for Specialized Technical Assistance and
Training Programs.--Section 214A of the Victims of Child
Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20305) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``to attorneys'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``to--
[[Page S7452]]
``(1) attorneys and other allied professionals instrumental
to the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in State or
Federal courts, for the purpose of improving the quality of
criminal prosecution of such cases; and
``(2) child abuse professionals instrumental to the
protection of children, intervention in child abuse cases,
and treatment of victims of child abuse, for the purpose of--
``(A) improving the quality of such protection,
intervention, and treatment; and
``(B) promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-
informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary
response to child abuse, including best practices in
programmatic evaluation and financial oversight of Federal
funding.'';
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Grantee Organizations.--
``(1) Prosecutors.--An organization to which a grant is
made for specific training and technical assistance for
prosecutors under subsection (a)(1) shall be one that has--
``(A) a broad representation of attorneys who prosecute
criminal cases in State courts; and
``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and
technical assistance for prosecutors.
``(2) Child abuse professionals.--An organization to which
a grant is made for specific training and technical
assistance for child abuse professionals under subsection
(a)(2) shall be one that has--
``(A) a diverse portfolio of training and technical
resources for the diverse professionals responding to child
abuse, including a digital library to promote evidence-
informed practice; and
``(B) demonstrated experience in providing training and
technical assistance for child abuse professionals,
especially law enforcement officers, child protective service
workers, prosecutors, forensic interviewers, medical
professionals, victim advocates, and mental health
professionals.''; and
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting after ``shall
require'' the following: ``, in the case of a grant made
under subsection (a)(1),''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 214B of the
Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20306) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``sections 213 and 214''
and all that follows and inserting the following: ``sections
213 and 214, $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``section 214A'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``section 214A,
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
(g) Accountability.--Section 214C of the Victims of Child
Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20307) is amended--
(1) by striking ``All grants awarded'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) In General.--All grants awarded''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Reporting.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the
Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives a report that--
``(1) summarizes the efforts of the Administrator to
monitor and evaluate the regional children's advocacy program
activities under section 213(d);
``(2) describes--
``(A) the method by which amounts are allocated to grantees
and subgrantees under this subtitle, including to local
children's advocacy centers, State chapters, and regional
children's advocacy program centers; and
``(B) steps the Attorney General has taken to minimize
duplication and overlap in the awarding of amounts under this
subtitle; and
``(3) analyzes the extent to which both rural and urban
populations are served under the regional children's advocacy
program.''.
(h) Technical and Conforming Amendments Relating to Title
34, United States Code.--The Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 212(1) (34 U.S.C. 20302), by striking ``(42
U.S.C. 5611(b))'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C. 11111(b))'';
(2) in section 214(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20304(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)'';
(3) in section 214A(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20305(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)'';
(4) in section 217(c)(1) (34 U.S.C. 20323(c)(1)), by
striking ``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34
U.S.C. 11183, 11186)''; and
(5) in section 223(c) (34 U.S.C. 20333(c)), by striking
``(42 U.S.C. 5665 et seq.)'' and inserting ``(34 U.S.C.
11183, 11186)''.
SEC. 3. IMMUNITY PROTECTIONS FOR REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE.
(a) State Plans.--Section 106(b)(2)(B)(vii) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C.
5106a(b)(2)(B)(vii)) is amended to read as follows:
``(vii) provisions for immunity from civil or criminal
liability under State and local laws and regulations for
individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known
instances of child abuse or neglect, or who otherwise provide
information or assistance, including medical evaluations or
consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or
legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child
abuse or neglect;''.
(b) Federal Immunity.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any individual making a good faith report to appropriate
authorities of a suspected or known instance of child abuse
or neglect, or who otherwise, in good faith, provides
information or assistance, including medical evaluations or
consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or
legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child
abuse or neglect shall not be subject to civil liability or
criminal prosecution, under any Federal law, rising from
making such report or providing such information or
assistance.
(2) Presumption of good faith.--In a Federal civil action
or criminal prosecution brought against a person based on the
person's reporting a suspected or known instance of child
abuse or neglect, or providing information or assistance with
respect to such a report, as described in paragraph (1),
there shall be a presumption that the person acted in good
faith.
(3) Costs.--If the defendant prevails in a Federal civil
action described in paragraph (2), the court may award costs
and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defendant.
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