II 
Calendar No. 156 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2119 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 27, 2021 
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar 
AN ACT 
To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act 
to make improvements. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES; SEVERABILITY. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement 
Act of 2021’’. 
(b) REFERENCES.—Except as otherwise specified, 
amendments made by this Act to a section or other provi-
sion of law are amendments to such section or other provi-
sion of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act 
(42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.). 
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(c) SEVERABILITY.—If any provision of this Act, an 
amendment made by this Act, or the application of such 
provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is 
held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the 
amendments made by this Act, and the application of such 
provision or amendment to any person or circumstance 
shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
Subsection (b) of section 301 (42 U.S.C. 10401) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this title to im-
prove services and interventions for victims of domestic 
violence, dating violence, and family violence, and to ad-
vance primary and secondary prevention of domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, and family violence by— 
‘‘(1) assisting States and territories in sup-
porting local domestic violence, dating violence, and 
family violence programs to provide accessible, trau-
ma-informed, culturally relevant residential and non- 
residential services to domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, and family violence victims and their children 
and dependents; 
‘‘(2) strengthening the capacity of Indian 
Tribes to exercise their sovereign authority to re-
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spond to domestic violence, dating violence, and fam-
ily violence committed against Indians; 
‘‘(3) providing for a network of technical assist-
ance and training centers to support effective policy, 
practice, research, and cross-system collaboration to 
improve intervention and prevention efforts through-
out the country; 
‘‘(4) supporting the efforts of State, territorial, 
and Tribal coalitions to document and address the 
needs of victims and their children and dependents, 
including victims and their children and dependents 
who are underserved, implement effective coordi-
nated community and systems responses, and pro-
mote ongoing public education and community en-
gagement; 
‘‘(5) maintaining national domestic violence, 
dating violence, and family violence hotlines, includ-
ing a national Indian domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, and family violence hotline; and 
‘‘(6) supporting the development and implemen-
tation of evidence-informed, coalition-led, and com-
munity-based primary prevention approaches and 
programs.’’. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 302 (42 U.S.C. 10402) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) ALASKA NATIVE.—The term ‘Alaska Na-
tive’ has the meaning given the term Native in sec-
tion 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1602). 
‘‘(2) CHILD.—The term ‘child’ means an indi-
vidual who is younger than age 18. 
‘‘(3) DATING PARTNER.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘dating 
partner’ means any person who is or has been 
in a social relationship of a romantic or inti-
mate nature with an abuser, and where the ex-
istence of such a relationship shall be deter-
mined based on a consideration of one or more 
of the following factors: 
‘‘(i) The length of the relationship. 
‘‘(ii) The type of the relationship. 
‘‘(iii) The frequency of interaction be-
tween the persons involved in the relation-
ship. 
‘‘(iv) The cultural context of the rela-
tionship. 
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‘‘(B) CONSTRUCTION.—Sexual contact is 
not a necessary component of a relationship de-
scribed in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(4) DIGITAL
SERVICES.—The term ‘digital 
services’ means services, resources, information, sup-
port, or referrals provided through electronic com-
munications platforms and media, which may in-
clude mobile phone technology, video technology, 
computer technology (including use of the internet), 
and any other emerging communications tech-
nologies that are appropriate for the purposes of 
providing services, resources, information, support, 
or referrals for the benefit of victims of domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, and family violence. 
‘‘(5) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, 
FAMILY VIOLENCE.—The terms ‘domestic violence’, 
‘dating violence’, and ‘family violence’ mean any act, 
threatened act, or pattern of acts of physical or sex-
ual violence, stalking, harassment, psychological 
abuse, economic abuse, technological abuse, or any 
other form of abuse, including threatening to com-
mit harm against children or dependents or other 
members of the household of the recipient of the 
threat for the purpose of coercion, threatening, or 
causing harm, directed against— 
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‘‘(A) a dating partner or other person 
similarly situated to a dating partner under the 
laws of the jurisdiction; 
‘‘(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 spouse under the 
laws of the jurisdiction; 
‘‘(D) a person who shares a child or de-
pendent 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. 
‘‘(6) ECONOMIC ABUSE.—The term ‘economic 
abuse’, when used in the context of domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, and family violence, means be-
havior that is coercive or deceptive related to a per-
son’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic 
resources to which they are entitled, or that unrea-
sonably controls or restrains a person’s ability to ac-
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quire, use, or maintain economic resources to which 
they are entitled. This includes using coercion, 
fraud, or manipulation to— 
‘‘(A) restrict a person’s access to money, 
assets, credit, or financial information; 
‘‘(B) unfairly use a person’s personal eco-
nomic resources, including money, assets, and 
credit, for one’s own advantage; or 
‘‘(C) exert undue influence over a person’s 
financial and economic behavior or decisions, 
including forcing default on joint or other fi-
nancial obligations, exploiting powers of attor-
ney, guardianship, or conservatorship, or failing 
or neglecting to act in the best interests of a 
person to whom one has a fiduciary duty. 
‘‘(7) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZA-
TION.—The terms ‘Indian’, ‘Indian Tribe’, and 
‘Tribal organization’ have the meanings given the 
terms ‘Indian’, ‘Indian tribe’, and ‘tribal organiza-
tion’, respectively, in section 4 of the Indian Self-De-
termination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(8) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
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meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(9) NATIVE HAWAIIAN; NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR-
GANIZATION.—The terms ‘Native Hawaiian’ and 
‘Native Hawaiian organization’ have the meanings 
given such terms in section 6207 of the Native Ha-
waiian Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7517). 
‘‘(10) PERSONALLY
IDENTIFYING
INFORMA-
TION.—The term ‘personally identifying information’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 40002(a) 
of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 
U.S.C. 12291(a)). 
‘‘(11) POPULATION
SPECIFIC
SERVICES.—The 
term ‘population specific services’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 40002(a) of the Violence 
Against Women Act (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)). 
‘‘(12) RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP; 
RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATION.—The 
terms ‘racial and ethnic minority group’ and ‘racial 
and ethnic minority population’ include each group 
listed in the definition of such term in section 
1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300u–6(g)). 
‘‘(13) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
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‘‘(14) SHELTER.—The term ‘shelter’ means the 
provision of temporary refuge and basic necessities, 
in conjunction with supportive services, provided on 
a regular basis, in compliance with applicable State, 
Tribal, territorial, or local law to victims of domestic 
violence, dating violence, or family violence and their 
children and dependents. Such law includes regula-
tions governing the provision of safe homes and 
other forms of secure temporary lodging, meals, 
other basic necessities, or supportive services to vic-
tims of domestic violence, dating violence, or family 
violence and their children and dependents. 
‘‘(15) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, except as other-
wise provided, Guam, American Samoa, the United 
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘(16) STATE
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
COALI-
TION.—The term ‘State Domestic Violence Coalition’ 
means a statewide nongovernmental nonprofit pri-
vate domestic violence, dating violence, and family 
organization designated by the Secretary that— 
‘‘(A) has a membership that includes a 
majority of the primary-purpose domestic vio-
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lence, dating violence, and family violence serv-
ice providers in the State; 
‘‘(B) has board membership that is rep-
resentative of primary-purpose domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, and family violence serv-
ice providers, and which may include represent-
atives of the communities in which the services 
are being provided in the State; 
‘‘(C) has as its purpose to provide edu-
cation, support, and technical assistance to such 
service providers to enable the providers to es-
tablish and maintain shelter and supportive 
services for victims of domestic violence, dating 
violence, and family violence and their children 
and dependents; and 
‘‘(D) serves as an information clearing-
house, primary point of contact, and resource 
center on domestic violence, dating violence, 
and family violence for the State and supports 
the development of polices, protocols, and proce-
dures to enhance domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, and family violence intervention and pre-
vention in the State. 
‘‘(17) SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.—The term ‘sup-
portive services’ means services for adult and youth 
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victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or fam-
ily violence, and children and dependents exposed to 
domestic violence, dating violence, or family violence, 
that are designed to— 
‘‘(A) meet the needs of such victims of do-
mestic violence, dating violence, or family vio-
lence, and their children and dependents, for 
short-term, transitional, or long-term safety; 
and 
‘‘(B) provide counseling, advocacy, or as-
sistance for victims of domestic violence, dating 
violence, or family violence, and their children 
and dependents. 
‘‘(18) 
TECHNOLOGICAL
ABUSE.—The 
term 
‘technological abuse’ means an act or pattern of be-
havior that— 
‘‘(A) occurs within domestic violence, dat-
ing violence, or family violence; 
‘‘(B) is intended to harm, threaten, intimi-
date, control, stalk, harass, impersonate, ex-
ploit, extort, or monitor, except as otherwise 
permitted by law, another person; and 
‘‘(C) uses any form of information tech-
nology, including any of the following: 
‘‘(i) Internet-enabled devices. 
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‘‘(ii) Online spaces or platforms. 
‘‘(iii) Computers, mobile devices, or 
software applications. 
‘‘(iv) Location tracking devices. 
‘‘(v) Communication technologies. 
‘‘(vi) Cameras or imaging platforms. 
‘‘(vii) Any other emerging technology. 
‘‘(19) TRIBAL
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
COALI-
TION.—The term ‘Tribal domestic violence coalition’ 
means an established nonprofit, nongovernmental 
Indian organization recognized by the Office of Vio-
lence Against Women at the Department of Justice 
that— 
‘‘(A) provides education, support, and tech-
nical assistance to member Indian service pro-
viders in a manner that enables the member 
providers to establish and maintain culturally 
appropriate services, including shelter (includ-
ing supportive services) designed to assist In-
dian victims of domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, or family violence and the children and 
dependents of such victims; and 
‘‘(B) is comprised of members that are 
representative of— 
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‘‘(i) the member service providers de-
scribed in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) the Tribal communities in which 
the services are being provided. 
‘‘(20) TRIBALLY DESIGNATED OFFICIAL.—The 
term ‘Tribally designated official’ means an indi-
vidual designated by an Indian Tribe, Tribal organi-
zation, or nonprofit private organization authorized 
by an Indian Tribe, to administer a grant under sec-
tion 309. 
‘‘(21) UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS; UNDER-
SERVED
INDIVIDUALS.—The terms ‘underserved 
populations’ and ‘underserved individuals’ mean vic-
tims of domestic violence, dating violence, or family 
violence, and their children and dependents who face 
obstacles in accessing and using State, Tribal, terri-
torial, or local domestic violence, dating violence, or 
family violence services, or who may be overrepre-
sented in experiencing domestic violence, dating vio-
lence, or family violence due to historical barriers. 
Populations may be underserved on the basis of, 
marginalized racial and ethnic minority populations, 
Indigenous status, cultural and language barriers, 
immigration status, disabilities, mental health needs, 
sexual orientation or gender identity, age (including 
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both elders and children), geographical location, 
faith or religious practice or lack thereof, or other 
bases, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(22) VICTIM.—The term ‘victim’ means an in-
dividual against whom an act of domestic violence, 
dating violence, or family violence is carried out. 
‘‘(23) YOUTH.—The term ‘youth’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 4002(a) of the Vi-
olence 
Against 
Women 
Act 
(34 
U.S.C. 
12291(a)(45)).’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 303 (42 U.S.C. 10403) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out sections 301 through 312 
and 316, $270,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026. 
‘‘(2) RESERVATIONS FOR GRANTS TO TRIBES.— 
Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) 
for a fiscal year, 12.5 percent shall be reserved and 
used to carry out section 309. 
‘‘(3) FORMULA
GRANTS
TO
STATES.—Of the 
amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fis-
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cal year and not reserved under paragraph (2) (re-
ferred to in this subsection as the ‘remainder’), not 
less than 70 percent shall be used for making grants 
under section 306(a). 
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
TRAINING 
CENTERS.—Of the remainder, not less than 6 per-
cent shall be used to carry out section 310. 
‘‘(5) GRANTS FOR STATE AND TRIBAL DOMES-
TIC VIOLENCE COALITIONS.—Of the remainder— 
‘‘(A) not less than 10 percent shall be used 
to carry out section 311; and 
‘‘(B) not less than 3 percent shall be used 
to carry out section 311A. 
‘‘(6) SPECIALIZED SERVICES.—Of the remain-
der, not less than 5 percent shall be used to carry 
out section 312. 
‘‘(7) CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES.—Of the 
remainder, not less 2.5 percent shall be used to 
carry out section 316. 
‘‘(8) ADMINISTRATION, EVALUATION, AND MON-
ITORING.—Of the remainder, not more than 3.5 per-
cent shall be used by the Secretary for evaluation, 
monitoring, and other administrative costs under 
this title. 
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‘‘(b) NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 
313 $14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL INDIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOT-
LINE.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out section 313A $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026. 
‘‘(d) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ENHANCE-
MENT AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH ALLIANCES.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 314 
$26,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
‘‘(e) GRANTS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 
315 $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026. 
‘‘(f) RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated for research and evaluation of ac-
tivities under this title $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2026.’’. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY. 
Section 304 (42 U.S.C. 10404) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or in-
stitutions of higher education, including to sup-
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port and evaluate demonstration or discre-
tionary projects in response to current and 
emerging issues,’’ after ‘‘nongovernmental enti-
ties’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘CAPTA 
Reauthorization Act of 2010’’ and inserting 
‘‘Family Violence Prevention and Services Im-
provement Act of 2021’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘have ex-
pertise in the field of family violence and do-
mestic violence prevention and services and, to 
the extent practicable, have expertise in the 
field of dating violence;’’ and inserting ‘‘have 
expertise in the field of domestic violence, dat-
ing violence, and family violence prevention and 
services;’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘preven-
tion and treatment of’’ and inserting ‘‘preven-
tion of, intervention in, and treatment of,’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; and 
(ii) by adding after subparagraph (C) 
the following: 
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