I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6097 
To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to authorize 
grants to ensure access for victims of family violence, domestic violence, 
and dating violence to substance use disorder treatment that allows 
parents (or legal guardians) and their children, stepchildren, or other 
dependents to remain together throughout the course of treatment, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 26, 2023 
Mr. MRVAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act 
to authorize grants to ensure access for victims of family 
violence, domestic violence, and dating violence to sub-
stance use disorder treatment that allows parents (or 
legal guardians) and their children, stepchildren, or other 
dependents to remain together throughout the course 
of treatment, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Family Violence Prevention 
and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 315. GRANTS FOR SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER. 
‘‘(a) SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—From the sums appro-
priated under section 303(e) and available to carry 
out this subsection for any fiscal year, the Secretary 
may award grants to eligible entities to develop, im-
plement, and improve programs for ensuring access 
for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and 
dating violence to substance use disorder treatment 
that allows parents (or legal guardians) and their 
children, stepchildren, or other dependents to remain 
together throughout the course of treatment. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall 
be— 
‘‘(A) a State; 
‘‘(B) a State Domestic Violence Coalition; 
‘‘(C) a nonprofit entity, including a Tribal, 
culturally specific organization, or community- 
based organization, with a history of effective 
work in the fields of family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence and substance use 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery 
support; or 
‘‘(D) a local or State department (or other 
division) of health (including mental health, be-
havioral health, or substance abuse agencies), a 
State Domestic Violence Coalition or victim 
service provider, or any other nonprofit, non-
governmental organization with a history of ef-
fective work in the fields of family violence, do-
mestic violence, or dating violence and sub-
stance use disorder treatment, prevention, and 
recovery support. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this subsection shall, di-
rectly or through subgrants or contracts, de-
velop and implement a program for ensuring 
access for victims of family violence, domestic 
violence, and dating violence to substance use 
disorder treatment that allows parents (or legal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
guardians) and their children, stepchildren, or 
other dependents to remain together throughout 
the course of treatment by carrying out one or 
more of the authorized activities described in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZED
ACTIVITIES
DE-
SCRIBED.—The authorized activities described 
in this subparagraph include the following: 
‘‘(i) The provision of residential and 
nonresidential 
substance 
use 
disorder 
treatment services. 
‘‘(ii) 
Notwithstanding 
section 
308(d)(1), the provision or expansion of 
transitional housing, temporary rental as-
sistance, and other supportive housing sta-
bility services, including direct cash assist-
ance. 
‘‘(iii) The provision of services that— 
‘‘(I) support victims of family vi-
olence, domestic violence, and dating 
violence while receiving substance use 
disorder treatment services, including 
recovery and harm reduction; and 
‘‘(II) enable parents (or legal 
guardians) and their children, step-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
children, or other dependents to re-
main together throughout the course 
of treatment, including— 
‘‘(aa) supportive services, in-
cluding advocacy, case manage-
ment, and information and refer-
ral services; 
‘‘(bb) health care services, 
including prenatal wellness serv-
ices, and support services for 
pregnant and postpartum vic-
tims; and 
‘‘(cc) services for children 
and youth that are exposed to 
family violence, domestic violence, 
and dating violence, including 
age-appropriate 
confidential 
counseling and supportive serv-
ices. 
‘‘(iv) The cultivation of partnerships 
between State, local, and Tribal policy-
makers in order to develop and implement 
service and policy changes for victims of 
family violence, domestic violence, and dat-
ing violence with substance use disorders 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
that ensure the safety of victims, and re-
duce barriers for victims disproportionately 
affected by family violence. 
‘‘(v) The provision of training for 
staff associated with delivering services to 
ensure that each program developed using 
a grant received under this subsection in-
cludes procedures that protect the safety, 
privacy, and confidentiality of parents (or 
legal guardians) and their children, step-
children, or other dependents in a manner 
consistent with subparagraph (F). 
‘‘(vi) Such other activities as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) ADVANCE NOTICE OF INFORMATION 
DISCLOSURE.—If the release of information is 
compelled by statutory or court mandate, an eli-
gible entity receiving a grant under this section 
shall— 
‘‘(i) provide advance notice to victims 
affected by the release of such information 
about the circumstances compelling the re-
lease of such information, such as manda-
tory reporting laws; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) give victims the option to receive 
information and referrals without affirma-
tively disclosing abuse. 
‘‘(D) ADMINISTRATION
AND
TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE.—Each eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this subsection may use— 
‘‘(i) up to 6 percent of the grant 
amount to procure technical assistance, in-
cluding technical assistance provided by 
the National Capacity Building Center to 
Prevent Substance Use Coercion estab-
lished under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(ii) up to 5 percent of the grant 
amount for evaluation, monitoring, staff 
training, and other administrative costs 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(E) REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS.—Each 
eligible entity receiving a grant under this sub-
section shall submit to the Secretary at such 
time as shall be reasonably required by the Sec-
retary, a report that— 
‘‘(i) describes the activities that have 
been carried out with such grant funds; 
‘‘(ii) includes an evaluation of the ef-
fectiveness of such activities; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iii) provides such additional infor-
mation as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(F) PRIVACY.—Each eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this subsection shall en-
sure that each program developed or imple-
mented with such grant protects victim privacy, 
confidentiality, and safety in compliance with 
applicable confidentiality, privacy, and non-
disclosure requirements of this Act. 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING CENTER
TO 
PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE COERCION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—From the sums appro-
priated under section 303(e) and available to carry 
out this subsection for any fiscal year, the Secretary 
may award a grant to an eligible entity for the es-
tablishment and maintenance of a National Capacity 
Building Center to Prevent Substance Use Coercion 
that will undertake the activities described in para-
graph (3). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an eligible enti-
ty— 
‘‘(A) shall be a nonprofit private organiza-
tion that focuses primarily on domestic violence; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) shall provide documentation to the 
Secretary demonstrating experience working di-
rectly on issues of domestic violence; 
‘‘(C) shall provide documentation to the 
Secretary demonstrating experience working di-
rectly on the intersection of domestic violence, 
substance use, and substance use coercion; 
‘‘(D) shall— 
‘‘(i) include on the entity’s advisory 
board representatives who are from domes-
tic violence service programs and who are 
geographically and culturally diverse; or 
‘‘(ii) procure equivalent involvement 
of, and feedback from, individuals who 
have such qualifications, if the entity does 
not have an advisory board; and 
‘‘(E) shall demonstrate the strong support 
of domestic violence service programs from 
across the Nation for the entity’s demonstrated 
history in providing training and technical as-
sistance on the intersection of domestic vio-
lence, substance misuse, and substance use co-
ercion. 
‘‘(3) REQUIRED USES OF FUNDS.—The eligible 
entity awarded a grant under this subsection, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
through the National Capacity Building Center to 
Prevent Substance Use Coercion, shall use the 
grant— 
‘‘(A) to provide training and technical as-
sistance to entities receiving grants under sub-
section (a) in the implementation of programs 
funded under such subsection; 
‘‘(B) to conduct evaluations of programs 
funded under subsection (a); 
‘‘(C) to identify and disseminate best prac-
tices that emerge from programs funded under 
subsection (a); and 
‘‘(D) to carry out such other activities as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.—From the sums 
appropriated under section 303(e) for any fiscal year, not 
more than $4,000,000 for such fiscal year may be used 
by the Secretary for evaluation, monitoring, and other ad-
ministrative expenses. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) SUBSTANCE
USE
COERCION.—The term 
‘substance use coercion’ means any act, threatened 
act, or pattern of acts of physical or sexual violence, 
or any other form of abuse involving substance mis-
use through the use of force, threat, or coercion, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
that results in, or exacerbates, a substance use dis-
order, a substance-induced mental disorder, or any 
other form of substance dependance, directed 
against— 
‘‘(A) a dating partner or other person 
similarly situated to a dating partner under the 
laws of the jurisdiction where such an act oc-
curs; 
‘‘(B) a person who is cohabitating with or 
has cohabitated with the person committing 
such an act; 
‘‘(C) a current or former spouse or other 
person similarly situated to a current or former 
spouse under the laws of the jurisdiction where 
such an act occurs; 
‘‘(D) a person who shares a child, step-
child, or other dependent in common with the 
person committing such an act; 
‘‘(E) a person who is related by marriage, 
blood, or is otherwise legally related; or 
‘‘(F) any other person who is protected 
from any such act under the domestic or family 
violence laws, policies, or regulations of the ju-
risdiction where the act occurs. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) VICTIM.—The term ‘victim’ means an indi-
vidual against whom an act of domestic violence, 
dating violence, or family violence is carried out.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
303 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act 
(42 U.S.C. 10403) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(e) SAFE RECOVERY TOGETHER GRANTS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 315 
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Nov 02, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6097.IH
H6097
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with BILLS