Domestic Violence Community Response Team Act of 1995

Summary: Domestic Violence Community Response Team Act of 1995 - Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to:  (1) award grants for community response teams to assist in domestic violence prevention; and (2) award contracts for technical assistance centers. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Domestic Violence Community Response 
Team Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) establish and strengthen the partnership between law 
        enforcement and community groups in order to assist victims of 
        domestic violence;
            (2) provide early intervention and followup services in 
        order to prevent future incidents of domestic violence; and
            (3) establish a central technical assistance center for the 
        collection and provision of programmatic information and 
        technical assistance.

SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED FOR COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), is authorized to award 
grants to encourage eligible entities to serve as community response 
teams to assist in the prevention of domestic violence. Grants awarded 
under this section shall be awarded in a manner that ensures geographic 
and demographic diversity.
    (b) Maximum Amount.--The Secretary shall not award a grant under 
this section in an amount that exceeds $500,000.
    (c) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under this section 
for periods of not to exceed 3 years.
    (d) Eligible Entity.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        ``eligible entity'' means a nonprofit, community-based 
        organization whose primary purpose involves domestic violence 
        prevention, and who has demonstrated expertise in providing 
        services to victims of domestic violence and collaborating with 
        service providers and support agencies in the community.
            (2) Additional requirements.--In order to be considered an 
        eligible entity for purposes of this section, an entity shall--
                    (A) have an understanding of the racial, ethnic, 
                and lingual diversity of the community in which such 
                entity serves as a community response team;
                    (B) be able to respond adequately to such 
                community; and
                    (C) to the extent practicable, include personnel 
                that reflect the racial, ethnic, and lingual diversity 
                of such community.
    (e) Role of Community Response Teams.--Community response teams 
established pursuant to this section shall--
            (1) provide community advocates to work (in conjunction 
        with local police) with victims, immediately after incidents of 
        domestic violence;
            (2) educate victims of domestic violence about the legal 
        process with respect to restraining orders and civil and 
        criminal charges;
            (3) discuss with such victims immediate safety arrangements 
        and child care needs, and educate victims about resources 
        provided by local agencies;
            (4) provide for followup services and counseling with local 
        support agencies;
            (5) educate victims regarding abuse tactics, including 
        increased incidence of violence that occurs after repeated 
        episodes of violence; and
            (6) act in partnership with local law enforcement agencies 
        to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(f) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--Applications for grants under this section 
        shall be submitted to the Secretary at such time, in such 
        manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
        may reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) include a complete description of the eligible 
                entity's plan for operating a community-based 
                partnership between law enforcement officials and 
                community organizations;
                    (B) demonstrate effective community leadership, 
                commitment to community action, and commitment to 
                working with affected populations;
                    (C) provide for periodic project evaluation through 
                written reports and analysis in order to assist in 
                applying successful programs to other communities; and
                    (D) demonstrate an understanding of the population 
                to be served, including an understanding of the racial, 
                ethnic, and socio-economic characteristics that 
                influence the roles of women and affect treatment.
    (g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amount made available under 
section 5 for a grant under this section for a community response team, 
not more than 5 percent of such amount may be expended to cover the 
administrative expenses of the community response team.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award a contract to 
an eligible entity to serve as a technical assistance center under this 
Act. The technical assistance center shall--
            (1) serve as a national information, training, and material 
        development source for the development and support of community 
        response teams nationwide; and
            (2) provide technical support and input to community 
        programs, including assisting local groups in the establishment 
        of programs and providing training to community volunteer staff 
        persons.
    (b) Eligible Entity.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means a nonprofit organization with a primary focus 
on domestic violence prevention and demonstrated expertise in providing 
technical assistance, information, training, and resource development 
on some aspect of domestic violence service provision or prevention. An 
eligible entity shall be selected by the Secretary under this section 
based on competence, experience, and a proven ability to conduct 
national-level organization and program development. In order to be 
considered an eligible entity for purposes of this section, an entity 
shall provide the Secretary with evidence of support from community-
based domestic violence organizations for the designation of the entity 
as the technical assistance center.
    (c) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amount made available under 
section 5 for a contract under this section for a technical assistance 
center, not more than 5 percent of such amount may be expended to cover 
the administrative expenses of the technical assistance center.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal years 
1996, 1997, and 1998 to carry out the provisions of this Act, of which 
$300,000 shall be made available for a contract under section 4.