    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-424
    115th Congress

    An Act

    To reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of
    1990. <>

    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 ``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

    [[Page 5466]]

    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--

    [[Page 5467]]

    ``(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

    [[Page 5468]]

    (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.''.

    [[Page 5469]]

    (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, $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:

    [[Page 5470]]

    ``(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

    [[Page 5471]]

    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.

    Approved January 7, 2019.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2961:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-432 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
    Dec. 11, considered and passed Senate.
    Dec. 20, considered and passed House.