Security and Financial Empowerment Act

Bill: 112-hr-3271
Sponsor: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-34]
Introduced: 2011-10-27 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Disability and health-based discrimination
Domestic violence and child abuse
Employee leave
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Insurance industry and regulation
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
Life, casualty, property insurance
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sex offenses
Unemployment
Violent crime
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: 
 Security and Financial Empowerment Act - Authorizes appropriations for grants for the national resource center on workplace responses to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence for FY2012-FY2016. Establishes limits on the use of funds for administrative costs. Requires the center to provide information and assistance to enable victim service organizations to provide resource materials or other assistance to employers, labor organizations, or employees.
 
Amends the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to set forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (domestic or sexual violence). Prohibits: (1) any employer from interfering with the exercise of any right provided under this Act; or (2) discrimination against any individual for exercising any such right, opposing any practice made unlawful by this Act, or instituting any proceeding under this Act. Establishes a private right of action to enforce this Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor to receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of this Act. Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave. 
 
Authorizes state use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for victims of domestic or sexual violence on emergency leave. 
Adds provisions to VAWA, entitled the Victims' Employment Sustainability Act, to prohibit certain discriminatory practices against victims of domestic or sexual violence by: (1) employers with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or (2) public agencies with respect to the terms or conditions of public assistance. Authorizes civil actions by individuals or the Attorney General to enforce such provisions. 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit denial of unemployment compensation to individuals separated from employment due to their experience of domestic or sexual violence. 
Amends the Social Security Act to require training of unemployment compensation and TANF personnel to provide necessary services to victims of domestic or sexual violence. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award a grant to a national victim services organization to develop and disseminate a model training program. 
Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage (including termination of health insurance coverage) or addition of a premium differential based on the status of the applicant or insured as a victim of abuse by a household or family member, intimate partner, or caretaker. Provides for enforcement of such prohibitions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and by a private cause of action.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
action_date: 2011-11-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1956-1957)
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-10-27
text: Introduced in House