[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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