I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1484 
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 
to States to provide safety measures to social workers and other similar 
professionals who work with at-risk populations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2017 
Ms. SINEMA (for herself and Ms. STEFANIK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to award grants to States to provide safety measures 
to social workers and other similar professionals who 
work with at-risk populations, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Social Worker Safety 
Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. SOCIAL WORKER SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services may award grants to States to pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Mar 16, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
vide safety measures to social workers and other similar 
professionals (as designated by the Secretary) working 
with violent, illicit drug-using, or other at-risk populations. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants awarded pursuant to 
subsection (a) may be used to provide or support the fol-
lowing safety measures: 
(1)(A) The procurement and installation of 
safety equipment, including communications or re-
cording systems, such as cell phones, wearable track-
ing devices with GPS/Bluetooth locator, or panic 
buttons used for supervised foster care visits and 
other client visits to assist agencies in locating staff. 
(B) Technical assistance and training for safety 
communications. 
(2) Training sessions and exercises for self-de-
fense and crisis, together with such organizations as 
local law enforcement. 
(3) Facility safety improvements. 
(4) Training in cultural competency, including 
linguistic training, and training on strategies for de- 
escalating a situation that could turn volatile. 
(5) Training to help work with clients who— 
(A) have serious mental and substance use 
disorders; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Mar 16, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) have behavioral problems and need 
help coping. 
(6) Educational resources and materials to 
train staff on safety and awareness measures. 
(7) Support services, counseling, and additional 
resources for social workers who have experienced 
safety issues or trauma-related incidents in the 
workplace. 
(8) Installation of a local data incident tracking 
system to monitor, prevent, and mitigate future of-
fenses against social workers. 
(9) Other policy developments and implementa-
tion activities determined by the Secretary for social 
work safety training, resources, and support. 
(c) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A State seeking a grant 
under subsection (a) shall submit an application to 
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and ac-
companied by such additional information as the 
Secretary may require. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) describe the type of agencies that will 
receive funding through the grant and type of 
work to be done by such agencies; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Mar 16, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) describe the specific activities for 
which the grant is sought and include a pro-
gram budget; and 
(C) contain an assurance that the appli-
cant will evaluate the effectiveness of the safety 
measures provided through the grant. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that— 
(1) demonstrate the greatest need based on 
documented incidents; and 
(2) seek to provide assistance to multiple agen-
cies. 
(e) QUALITY ASSURANCE
AND COST EFFECTIVE-
NESS.—The Secretary shall establish guidelines for ensur-
ing the quality and cost effectiveness of the safety meas-
ures funded under this section. 
(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
provide technical assistance to recipients of a grant under 
this section with respect to planning, developing, imple-
menting, and sustaining safety measures through the 
grant. 
(g) REPORT
REQUIREMENT.—States receiving a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, not 
later than 2 years after such receipt, a report that in-
cludes— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Mar 16, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) an assessment of the activities funded in 
whole or in part with the grant; 
(2) the range and scope of training opportuni-
ties provided through training programs funded in 
whole or in part through a grant under this section, 
including the numbers and percentages of social 
workers engaged in such training programs; and 
(3) the incidence of threats to social workers, if 
any, and the strategies used to address their safety. 
(h) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—With respect to the 
costs of safety measures to be provided pursuant to a 
grant under subsection (a), the State receiving the grant 
shall agree to make available (directly or through dona-
tions from public or private entities) non-Federal contribu-
tions toward such costs in an amount that is $1 for each 
$1 of Federal funds awarded through the grant. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
(2) The term ‘‘social work’’ means— 
(A) the professional activity of helping in-
dividuals, groups, or communities to enhance or 
restore capacity for social and psychosocial 
functioning, and to create societal conditions fa-
vorable to such enhancement or restoration; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Mar 16, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS