[117th Congress Public Law 27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 135 STAT. 301]]
Public Law 117-27
117th Congress
An Act
To deposit certain funds into the Crime Victims Fund, to waive matching
requirements, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: July 22, 2021 - [H.R.
1652]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: VOCA Fix to
Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 34 USC 10101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims
Fund Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE FIX OF CRIME VICTIMS FUND AND COMPENSATION.
(a) Crime Victims Fund.--Section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of
1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(6) any funds that would otherwise be deposited in the
general fund of the Treasury collected pursuant to--
``(A) a deferred prosecution agreement; or
``(B) a non-prosecution agreement.''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``Director'' and
inserting ``Director, except that renewals and extensions beyond
that period may be granted at the discretion of the Attorney
General''.
(b) Crime Victim Compensation.--Section 1403 of the Victims of Crime
Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20102) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``40 percent in
fiscal year 2002 and of 60 percent in subsequent fiscal
years'' and inserting ``75 percent'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``of 40 percent in
fiscal year 2002 and of 60 percent in subsequent fiscal
years'';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
new paragraph:
``(3) For the purposes of calculating amounts awarded in the
previous fiscal year under this subsection, the Director shall
not require eligible crime victim compensation programs
[[Page 135 STAT. 302]]
to deduct recovery costs or collections from restitution or from
subrogation for payment under a civil lawsuit.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ``authorities;'' and
inserting ``authorities, except if a program determines such
cooperation may be impacted due to a victim's age, physical
condition, psychological state, cultural or linguistic barriers,
or any other health or safety concern that jeopardizes the
victim's wellbeing;''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) <<NOTE: Definition.>> the term `recovery costs' means
expenses for personnel directly involved in the recovery efforts
to obtain collections from restitution or from subrogation for
payment under a civil law suit.''.
SEC. 3. WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 1404(a) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984
(34 U.S.C. 20103(a)) is amended by inserting at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(7)(A) Each chief executive may waive a matching
requirement imposed by the Director, in accordance with
subparagraph (B), as a condition for the receipt of funds under
any program to provide assistance to victims of crimes
authorized under this chapter. <<NOTE: Reports.>> The chief
executive shall report to the Director the approval of any
waiver of the matching requirement.
``(B) <<NOTE: Public information.>> Each chief executive
shall establish and make public, a policy including--
``(i) the manner in which an eligible crime victim
assistance program can request a match waiver;
``(ii) <<NOTE: Criteria.>> the criteria used to
determine eligibility of the match waiver; and
``(iii) the process for decision making and
notifying the eligible crime victim assistance program
of the decision.''.
(b) National Emergency Waiver.--Section 1404(a) of the Victims of
Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20103(a)), as amended by subsection (a), is
further amended by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
``(8) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Beginning on the date a
national emergency is declared under the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to a pandemic and
ending on the date that is one year after the date of the end of
such national emergency, each chief executive shall issue
waivers for any matching requirement, in its entirety, for all
eligible crime victim assistance programs contracted to provide
services at that time.''.
SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the
[[Page 135 STAT. 303]]
Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee,
provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on
passage.
Approved July 22, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1652:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
Mar. 16, 17, considered and passed House.
July 20, considered and passed Senate.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2021):
July 22, Presidential remarks.
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