Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003
PL 108-36 (S.342), enacted 06/25/2003

117 STAT. 800
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
Public Law 108–36
108th Congress
An Act
To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to make improvements
to and reauthorize programs under that Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Keeping Chil-
dren and Families Safe Act of 2003’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT
Sec. 101. Findings.
Subtitle A—General Program
Sec. 111. National clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse.
Sec. 112. Research and assistance activities and demonstrations.
Sec. 113. Grants to States and public or private agencies and organizations.
Sec. 114. Grants to States for child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment
programs.
Sec. 115. Grants to States for programs relating to the investigation and prosecu-
tion of child abuse and neglect cases.
Sec. 116. Miscellaneous requirements relating to assistance.
Sec. 117. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 118. Reports.
Subtitle B—Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse
Sec. 121. Purpose and authority.
Sec. 122. Eligibility.
Sec. 123. Amount of grant.
Sec. 124. Existing grants.
Sec. 125. Application.
Sec. 126. Local program requirements.
Sec. 127. Performance measures.
Sec. 128. National network for community-based family resource programs.
Sec. 129. Definitions.
Sec. 130. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C—Conforming Amendments
Sec. 141. Conforming amendments.
TITLE II—ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES
Sec. 201. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose.
Sec. 202. Information and services.
Sec. 203. Study of adoption placements.
Sec. 204. Studies on successful adoptions.
Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE III—ABANDONED INFANTS ASSISTANCE
Sec. 301. Findings.
42 USC 5101
note.
Keeping Children
and Families
Safe Act of 2003.
June 25, 2003
[S. 342]
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117 STAT. 801
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
Sec. 302. Establishment of local projects.
Sec. 303. Evaluations, study, and reports by Secretary.
Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 305. Definitions.
Sec. 306. Conforming amendment.
TITLE IV—FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES ACT
Sec. 401. State demonstration grants.
Sec. 402. Secretarial responsibilities.
Sec. 403. Evaluation.
Sec. 404. Information and technical assistance centers.
Sec. 405. Related assistance.
Sec. 406. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 407. Grants for State domestic violence coalitions.
Sec. 408. Evaluation and monitoring.
Sec. 409. Family member abuse information and documentation project.
Sec. 410. Model State leadership grants.
Sec. 411. National domestic violence hotline and internet grant.
Sec. 412. Youth education and domestic violence.
Sec. 413. Demonstration grants for community initiatives.
Sec. 414. Transitional housing assistance.
Sec. 415. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 416. Conforming amendment to another Act.
TITLE I—CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT ACT
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Section 2 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘close to 1,000,000’’ and
inserting ‘‘approximately 900,000’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (11) as para-
graphs (4) through (13), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
‘‘(2)(A) more children suffer neglect than any other form
of maltreatment; and
‘‘(B) investigations have determined that approximately 60
percent of children who were victims of maltreatment in 2001
suffered neglect, 19 percent suffered physical abuse, 10 percent
suffered sexual abuse, and 7 percent suffered emotional mal-
treatment;
‘‘(3)(A) child abuse can result in the death of a child;
‘‘(B) in 2001, an estimated 1,300 children were counted
by child protection services to have died as a result of abuse
or neglect; and
‘‘(C) children younger than 1 year old comprised 41 percent
of child abuse fatalities and 85 percent of child abuse fatalities
were younger than 6 years of age;’’;
(4) by striking paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), and
inserting the following:
‘‘(4)(A) many of these children and their families fail to
receive adequate protection and treatment; and
‘‘(B) slightly less than half of these children (42 percent
in 2001) and their families fail to receive adequate protection
or treatment;’’;
(5) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘organizations’’
and inserting ‘‘community-based organizations’’;
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117 STAT. 802
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘ensures’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘knowledge,’’ and inserting ‘‘recog-
nizes the need for properly trained staff with the qualifica-
tions needed’’; and
(C) in subparagraph (E), by inserting before the semi-
colon the following: ‘‘, which may impact child rearing
patterns, while at the same time, not allowing those dif-
ferences to enable abuse’’;
(6) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘this
national child and family emergency’’ and inserting ‘‘child abuse
and neglect’’; and
(7) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)—
(A) by striking ‘‘intensive’’ and inserting ‘‘needed’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘if removal has taken place’’ and
inserting ‘‘where appropriate’’.
Subtitle A—General Program
SEC. 111. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION RELATING
TO CHILD ABUSE.
(a) FUNCTIONS.—Section 103(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5104(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘all programs,’’ and all
that follows through ‘‘neglect; and’’ and inserting ‘‘all effective
programs, including private and community-based programs,
that show promise of success with respect to the prevention,
assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and
neglect and hold the potential for broad scale implementation
and replication;’’;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting
a semicolon;
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
‘‘(2) maintain information about the best practices used
for achieving improvements in child protective systems;’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) provide technical assistance upon request that may
include an evaluation or identification of—
‘‘(A) various methods and procedures for the investiga-
tion, assessment, and prosecution of child physical and
sexual abuse cases;
‘‘(B) ways to mitigate psychological trauma to the child
victim; and
‘‘(C) effective programs carried out by the States under
this Act; and
‘‘(5) collect and disseminate information relating to various
training resources available at the State and local level to—
‘‘(A) individuals who are engaged, or who intend to
engage, in the prevention, identification, and treatment
of child abuse and neglect; and
‘‘(B) appropriate State and local officials to assist in
training law enforcement, legal, judicial, medical, mental
health, education, and child welfare personnel.’’.
(b) COORDINATION
WITH
AVAILABLE
RESOURCES.—Section
103(c)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42
U.S.C. 5104(c)(1)) is amended—
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117 STAT. 803
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘105(a); and’’ and
inserting ‘‘104(a);’’;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph
(G); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
‘‘(F) collect and disseminate information that describes
best practices being used throughout the Nation for making
appropriate referrals related to, and addressing, the phys-
ical, developmental, and mental health needs of abused
and neglected children; and’’.
SEC. 112. RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES AND DEMONSTRA-
TIONS.
(a) RESEARCH.—Section 104(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5105(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the
first sentence, by inserting ‘‘, including longitudinal
research,’’ after ‘‘interdisciplinary program of research’’;
and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the semi-
colon the following: ‘‘, including the effects of abuse and
neglect on a child’s development and the identification
of successful early intervention services or other services
that are needed’’;
(C) in subparagraph (C)—
(i) by striking ‘‘judicial procedures’’ and inserting
‘‘judicial systems, including multidisciplinary, coordi-
nated decisionmaking procedures’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and
(D) in subparagraph (D)—
(i) in clause (viii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(ii) by redesignating clause (ix) as clause (x); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (viii), the following:
‘‘(ix) the incidence and prevalence of child mal-
treatment by a wide array of demographic characteris-
tics such as age, sex, race, family structure, household
relationship (including the living arrangement of the
resident parent and family size), school enrollment and
education attainment, disability, grandparents as care-
givers, labor force status, work status in previous year,
and income in previous year; and’’;
(E) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subpara-
graph (I); and
(F) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following:
‘‘(D) the evaluation and dissemination of best practices
consistent with the goals of achieving improvements in
the child protective services systems of the States in accord-
ance with paragraphs (1) through (12) of section 106(a);
‘‘(E) effective approaches to interagency collaboration
between the child protection system and the juvenile justice
system that improve the delivery of services and treatment,
including methods for continuity of treatment plan and
services as children transition between systems;
‘‘(F) an evaluation of the redundancies and gaps in
the services in the field of child abuse and neglect preven-
tion in order to make better use of resources;
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117 STAT. 804
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
‘‘(G) the nature, scope, and practice of voluntary relin-
quishment for foster care or State guardianship of low
income children who need health services, including mental
health services;
‘‘(H) the information on the national incidence of child
abuse and neglect specified in clauses (i) through (xi) of
subparagraph (H); and’’;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
‘‘(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003,
and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall provide
an opportunity for public comment concerning the priorities
proposed under subparagraph (A) and maintain an official
record of such public comment.’’;
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
‘‘(2) RESEARCH.—The Secretary shall conduct research on
the national incidence of child abuse and neglect, including
the information on the national incidence on child abuse and
neglect specified in subparagraphs (i) through (ix) of paragraph
(1)(I).
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the date of
the enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act
of 2003, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions of the Senate a report that contains the results
of the research conducted under paragraph (2).’’.
(b) PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 104(b) of
the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5105(b))
is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘nonprofit private agencies and’’ and
inserting ‘‘private agencies and community-based’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, including replicating successful pro-
gram models,’’ after ‘‘programs and activities’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) effective approaches being utilized to link child
protective service agencies with health care, mental health
care, and developmental services to improve forensic diag-
nosis and health evaluations, and barriers and shortages
to such linkages.’’.
(c) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.—Section 104 of
the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5105)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.—The Secretary
may award grants to, and enter into contracts with, States or
public or private agencies or organizations (or combinations of such
agencies or organizations) for time-limited, demonstration projects
for the following:
‘‘(1) PROMOTION
OF
SAFE, 
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENTS FOR VISITATION AND EXCHANGE.—The Secretary
Deadline.
Deadline.
Records.
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117 STAT. 805
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may award grants under this subsection to entities to assist
such entities in establishing and operating safe, family-friendly
physical environments—
‘‘(A) for court-ordered, supervised visitation between
children and abusing parents; and
‘‘(B) to safely facilitate the exchange of children for
visits with noncustodial parents in cases of domestic
violence.
‘‘(2) EDUCATION IDENTIFICATION, PREVENTION, AND TREAT-
MENT.—The Secretary may award grants under this subsection
to entities for projects that provide educational identification,
prevention, and treatment services in cooperation with pre-
school and elementary and secondary schools.
‘‘(3) RISK AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT TOOLS.—The Secretary
may award grants under this subsection to entities for projects
that provide for the development of research-based strategies
for risk and safety assessments relating to child abuse and
neglect.
‘‘(4) TRAINING.—The Secretary may award grants under
this subsection to entities for projects that involve research-
based strategies for innovative training for mandated child
abuse and neglect reporters.’’.
SEC. 113. GRANTS TO STATES AND PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.—Section 105(a)
of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C.
5106(a)) is amended—
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘DEMONSTRATION’’
and inserting ‘‘GRANTS FOR’’;
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘States,’’ after ‘‘contracts with,’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘time limited, demonstration’’;
(3) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘law, education,
social work, and other relevant fields’’ and inserting ‘‘law
enforcement, judiciary, social work and child protection,
education, and other relevant fields, or individuals such
as court appointed special advocates (CASAs) and guardian
ad litem,’’;
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘; and’’ and inserting ‘‘children,
youth and family service organizations in order to prevent
child abuse and neglect;’’;
(D) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) for training to support the enhancement of link-
ages between child protective service agencies and health
care agencies, including physical and mental health serv-
ices, to improve forensic diagnosis and health evaluations
and for innovative partnerships between child protective
service agencies and health care agencies that offer creative
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117 STAT. 806
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
approaches to using existing Federal, State, local, and pri-
vate funding to meet the health evaluation needs of chil-
dren who have been subjects of substantiated cases of
child abuse or neglect;
‘‘(E) for the training of personnel in best practices
to promote collaboration with the families from the initial
time of contact during the investigation through treatment;
‘‘(F) for the training of personnel regarding the legal
duties of such personnel and their responsibilities to protect
the legal rights of children and families;
‘‘(G) for improving the training of supervisory and non-
supervisory child welfare workers;
‘‘(H) for enabling State child welfare agencies to coordi-
nate the provision of services with State and local health
care agencies, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treat-
ment agencies, mental health agencies, and other public
and private welfare agencies to promote child safety,
permanence, and family stability;
‘‘(I) for cross training for child protective service
workers in research-based strategies for recognizing situa-
tions of substance abuse, domestic violence, and neglect;
and
‘‘(J) 
for 
developing, 
implementing, 
or 
operating
information and education programs or training programs
designed to improve the provision of services to disabled
infants with life-threatening conditions for—
‘‘(i) professionals and paraprofessional personnel
concerned with the welfare of disabled infants with
life-threatening 
conditions, 
including 
personnel
employed in child protective services programs and
health care facilities; and
‘‘(ii) the parents of such infants.’’;
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (1), the following:
‘‘(2) TRIAGE
PROCEDURES.—The Secretary may award
grants under this subsection to public and private agencies
that demonstrate innovation in responding to reports of child
abuse and neglect, including programs of collaborative partner-
ships between the State child protective services agency,
community social service agencies and family support programs,
law enforcement agencies, developmental disability agencies,
substance abuse treatment entities, health care entities,
domestic violence prevention entities, mental health service
entities, schools, churches and synagogues, and other commu-
nity agencies, to allow for the establishment of a triage system
that—
‘‘(A) accepts, screens, and assesses reports received
to determine which such reports require an intensive inter-
vention and which require voluntary referral to another
agency, program, or project;
‘‘(B) provides, either directly or through referral, a
variety of community-linked services to assist families in
preventing child abuse and neglect; and
‘‘(C) provides further investigation and intensive inter-
vention where the child’s safety is in jeopardy.’’;
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117 STAT. 807
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(6) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘non-
profit organizations (such as Parents Anonymous)’’ and
inserting ‘‘organizations’’;
(7) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)—
(A) by striking the paragraph heading;
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (C); and
(C) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) by striking ‘‘(B) KINSHIPCARE.—’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(4) KINSHIP CARE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) LINKAGES BETWEEN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE AGEN-
CIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES AGENCIES.—The Secretary may award grants to
entities that provide linkages between State or local child
protective service agencies and public health, mental health,
and developmental disabilities agencies, for the purpose of
establishing linkages that are designed to help assure that
a greater number of substantiated victims of child maltreatment
have their physical health, mental health, and developmental
needs appropriately diagnosed and treated, in accordance with
all applicable Federal and State privacy laws.’’.
(b) DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.—Section 105(b) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106(b)) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)’’;
(2) by striking paragraph (1);
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(1) and (2), respectively;
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated),
the following:
‘‘(3) Programs based within children’s hospitals or other
pediatric and adolescent care facilities, that provide model
approaches for improving medical diagnosis of child abuse and
neglect and for health evaluations of children for whom a
report of maltreatment has been substantiated.’’; and
(5) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’.
(c) EVALUATION.—Section 105(c) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106(c)) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘demonstration’’;
(2) in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘or contract’’ after
‘‘or as a separate grant’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘In the case of
an evaluation performed by the recipient of a grant, the Sec-
retary shall make available technical assistance for the evalua-
tion, where needed, including the use of a rigorous application
of scientific evaluation techniques.’’.
(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO HEADING.—The section heading
for section 105 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(42 U.S.C. 5106) is amended to read as follows:
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117 STAT. 808
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
‘‘SEC. 105. GRANTS TO STATES AND PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS.’’.
SEC. 114. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION GRANTS.—Section 106(a) of
the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(a))
is amended—
(1) in paragraph (3)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including ongoing case monitoring,’’
after ‘‘case management’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘and treatment’’ after ‘‘and delivery
of services’’;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘improving’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘referral systems’’ and inserting ‘‘developing,
improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools
and protocols’’;
(3) by striking paragraph (7);
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (8), and (9) as
paragraphs (6), (8), (9), and (12), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4), the following:
‘‘(5) developing and updating systems of technology that
support the program and track reports of child abuse and
neglect from intake through final disposition and allow inter-
state and intrastate information exchange;’’;
(6) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated), by striking
‘‘opportunities’’ and all that follows through ‘‘system’’ and
inserting ‘‘including—
‘‘(A) training regarding research-based strategies to
promote collaboration with the families;
‘‘(B) training regarding the legal duties of such individ-
uals; and
‘‘(C) personal safety training for case workers;’’;
(7) by inserting after paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)
the following:
‘‘(7) improving the skills, qualifications, and availability
of individuals providing services to children and families, and
the supervisors of such individuals, through the child protection
system, including improvements in the recruitment and reten-
tion of caseworkers;’’;
(8) by striking paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), and
inserting the following:
‘‘(9) developing and facilitating research-based strategies
for training for individuals mandated to report child abuse
or neglect;
‘‘(10) developing, implementing, or operating programs to
assist in obtaining or coordinating necessary services for fami-
lies of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions,
including—
‘‘(A) existing social and health services;
‘‘(B) financial assistance; and
‘‘(C) services necessary to facilitate adoptive placement
of any such infants who have been relinquished for adop-
tion;
‘‘(11) developing and delivering information to improve
public education relating to the role and responsibilities of
the child protection system and the nature and basis for
reporting suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect;’’;
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117 STAT. 809
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(9) in paragraph (12) (as so redesignated), by striking the
period and inserting a semicolon; and
(10) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(13) supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration
between the child protection system and the juvenile justice
system for improved delivery of services and treatment,
including methods for continuity of treatment plan and services
as children transition between systems; or
‘‘(14) supporting and enhancing collaboration among public
health agencies, the child protection system, and private
community-based programs to provide child abuse and neglect
prevention and treatment services (including linkages with edu-
cation systems) and to address the health needs, including
mental health needs, of children identified as abused or
neglected, including supporting prompt, comprehensive health
and developmental evaluations for children who are the subject
of substantiated child maltreatment reports.’’.
(b) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 106(b) of the Child Abuse Preven-
tion and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)—
(i) by striking ‘‘provide notice to the Secretary
of any substantive changes’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘provide notice to the Secretary—
‘‘(i) of any substantive changes; and’’;
(ii) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(ii) any significant changes to how funds provided
under this section are used to support the activities
which may differ from the activities as described in
the current State application.’’;
(B) in paragraph (2)(A)—
(i) by redesignating clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi),
(vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), and (xiii) as clauses
(iv), (vi), (vii), (viii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv),
(xvi) and (xvii), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after clause (i), the following:
‘‘(ii) policies and procedures (including appropriate
referrals to child protection service systems and for
other appropriate services) to address the needs of
infants born and identified as being affected by illegal
substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting
from prenatal drug exposure, including a requirement
that health care providers involved in the delivery
or care of such infants notify the child protective serv-
ices system of the occurrence of such condition in such
infants, except that such notification shall not be con-
strued to—
‘‘(I) establish a definition under Federal law
of what constitutes child abuse; or
‘‘(II) require prosecution for any illegal action;
‘‘(iii) the development of a plan of safe care for
the infant born and identified as being affected by
illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms;’’;
(iii) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by inserting
‘‘risk and’’ before ‘‘safety’’;
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117 STAT. 810
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(iv) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so redesig-
nated), the following:
‘‘(v) triage procedures for the appropriate referral
of a child not at risk of imminent harm to a community
organization or voluntary preventive service;’’;
(v) in clause (viii)(II) (as so redesignated), by
striking ‘‘, having a need for such information in order
to carry out its responsibilities under law to protect
children from abuse and neglect’’ and inserting ‘‘, as
described in clause (ix)’’;
(vi) by inserting after clause (viii) (as so redesig-
nated), the following:
‘‘(ix) provisions to require a State to disclose con-
fidential information to any Federal, State, or local
government entity, or any agent of such entity, that
has a need for such information in order to carry
out its responsibilities under law to protect children
from abuse and neglect;’’;
(vii) in clause (xiii) (as so redesignated)—
(I) by inserting ‘‘who has received training
appropriate to the role, and’’ after ‘‘guardian ad
litem,’’; and
(II) by inserting ‘‘who has received training
appropriate to that role’’ after ‘‘advocate’’;
(viii) in clause (xv) (as so redesignated), by striking
‘‘to be effective not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this section’’;
(ix) in clause (xvi) (as so redesignated)—
(I) by striking ‘‘to be effective not later than
2 years after the date of enactment of this section’’;
and
(II) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(x) in clause (xvii) (as so redesignated), by striking
‘‘clause (xii)’’ each place that such appears and
inserting ‘‘clause (xvi)’’; and
(xi) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(xviii) provisions and procedures to require that
a representative of the child protective services agency
shall, at the initial time of contact with the individual
subject to a child abuse and neglect investigation,
advise the individual of the complaints or allegations
made against the individual, in a manner that is con-
sistent with laws protecting the rights of the informant;
‘‘(xix) provisions addressing the training of rep-
resentatives of the child protective services system
regarding the legal duties of the representatives, which
may consist of various methods of informing such rep-
resentatives of such duties, in order to protect the
legal rights and safety of children and families from
the initial time of contact during investigation through
treatment;
‘‘(xx) provisions and procedures for improving the
training, retention, and supervision of caseworkers;
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117 STAT. 811
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
‘‘(xxi) provisions and procedures for referral of a
child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substan-
tiated case of child abuse or neglect to early interven-
tion services funded under part C of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act; and
‘‘(xxii) not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe
Act of 2003, provisions and procedures for requiring
criminal background record checks for prospective
foster and adoptive parents and other adult relatives
and non-relatives residing in the household;’’; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
flush sentence:
‘‘Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to limit the
State’s flexibility to determine State policies relating to public
access to court proceedings to determine child abuse and
neglect, except that such policies shall, at a minimum, ensure
the safety and well-being of the child, parents, and families.’’.
(2) LIMITATION.—Section 106(b)(3) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(3)) is
amended by striking ‘‘With regard to clauses (v) and (vi) of
paragraph (2)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘With regard to clauses (vi)
and (vii) of paragraph (2)(A)’’.
(c) CITIZEN REVIEW PANELS.—Section 106(c) of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4)—
(A) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i)—
(I) by striking ‘‘and procedures’’ and inserting
‘‘, procedures, and practices’’; and
(II) by striking ‘‘the agencies’’ and inserting
‘‘State and local child protection system agencies’’;
and
(ii) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ‘‘State’’ and
inserting ‘‘State and local’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—Each panel shall provide for
public outreach and comment in order to assess the impact
of current procedures and practices upon children and fami-
lies in the community and in order to meet its obligations
under subparagraph (A).’’; and
(2) in paragraph (6)—
(A) by striking ‘‘public’’ and inserting ‘‘State and the
public’’; and
(B) by inserting before the period the following: ‘‘and
recommendations to improve the child protection services
system at the State and local levels. Not later than 6
months after the date on which a report is submitted
by the panel to the State, the appropriate State agency
shall submit a written response to State and local child
protection systems and the citizen review panel that
describes whether or how the State will incorporate the
recommendations of such panel (where appropriate) to
make measurable progress in improving the State and
local child protective system’’.
Deadline.
Deadline.
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117 STAT. 812
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(d) ANNUAL STATE DATA REPORTS.—Section 106(d) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(d)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(13) The annual report containing the summary of the
activities of the citizen review panels of the State required
by subsection (c)(6).
‘‘(14) The number of children under the care of the State
child protection system who are transferred into the custody
of the State juvenile justice system.’’.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
prepare and submit to Congress a report that describes the extent
to which States are implementing the policies and procedures
required under section 106(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act.
SEC. 115. GRANTS TO STATES FOR PROGRAMS RELATING TO THE
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT CASES.
Section 107(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5106c(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) the handling of cases involving children with disabil-
ities or serious health-related problems who are victims of
abuse or neglect.’’.
SEC. 116. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ASSIST-
ANCE.
Section 108 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5106d) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary should encourage all States and public and private
agencies or organizations that receive assistance under this title
to ensure that children and families with limited English proficiency
who participate in programs under this title are provided materials
and services under such programs in an appropriate language other
than English.
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—A State that receives funds under section
106(a) shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report
describing the manner in which funds provided under this Act,
alone or in combination with other Federal funds, were used to
address the purposes and achieve the objectives of section 106.’’.
SEC. 117. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—Section 112(a)(1) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106h(a)(1)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(1) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this title $120,000,000 for fiscal year
2004 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 2005 through 2008.’’.
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—Section 112(a)(2)(B) of the
Child 
Abuse 
Prevention 
and 
Treatment 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
5106h(a)(2)(B)) is amended—
Deadline.
42 USC 5106a
note.
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117 STAT. 813
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(1) by striking ‘‘Secretary make’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary
shall make’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘section 106’’ and inserting ‘‘section 104’’.
SEC. 118. REPORTS.
Section 110 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5106f) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) STUDY
AND
REPORT
RELATING
TO
CITIZEN
REVIEW
PANELS.—
‘‘(1) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study by
random sample of the effectiveness of the citizen review panels
established under section 106(c).
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of
2003, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate a report that contains the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).’’.
Subtitle B—Community-Based Grants for
the Prevention of Child Abuse
SEC. 121. PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY.
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 201(a)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116(a)(1)) is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘(1) to support community-based efforts to develop, operate,
expand, enhance, and, where appropriate to network, initiatives
aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and to
support networks of coordinated resources and activities to
better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood
of child abuse and neglect; and’’.
(b) AUTHORITY.—Section 201(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by
striking ‘‘Statewide’’ and all that follows through the dash,
and inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through net-
works where appropriate) that are accessible, effective, cul-
turally appropriate, and build upon existing strengths
that—’’;
(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
and
(C) by striking subparagraph (G) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(G) demonstrate a commitment to meaningful parent
leadership, including among parents of children with
disabilities, parents with disabilities, racial and ethnic
minorities, and members of other underrepresented or
underserved groups; and
‘‘(H) provide referrals to early health and develop-
mental services;’’; and
(2) in paragraph (4)—
Deadline.
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117 STAT. 814
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(A) by inserting ‘‘through leveraging of funds’’ after
‘‘maximizing funding’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘a Statewide network of community-
based, prevention-focused’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based
and prevention-focused’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘family resource and support program’’
and inserting ‘‘programs and activities designed to
strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse
and neglect (through networks where appropriate)’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT
TO TITLE HEADING.—Title II of
the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116)
is amended by striking the heading for such title and inserting
the following:
‘‘TITLE II—COMMUNITY–BASED GRANTS
FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD
ABUSE AND NEGLECT’’.
SEC. 122. ELIGIBILITY.
Section 202 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116a) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘a Statewide network of community-
based, prevention-focused’’ and inserting ‘‘community-
based and prevention-focused’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘family resource and support pro-
grams’’ and all that follows through the semicolon and
inserting 
‘‘programs 
and 
activities 
designed 
to
strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse
and neglect (through networks where appropriate);’’
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘that exists to
strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse
and neglect’’ after ‘‘written authority of the State)’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘a network of
community-based family resource and support programs’’
and inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through net-
works where appropriate)’’;
(B) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) by striking ‘‘to the network’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and parents with disabilities’’
before the semicolon;
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘to the network’’;
and
(3) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Statewide net-
work of community-based, prevention-focused, family
resource and support programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-
based and prevention-focused programs and activities
designed to strengthen and support families to prevent
child abuse and neglect (through networks where appro-
priate)’’;
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117 STAT. 815
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘Statewide net-
work of community-based, prevention-focused, family
resource and support programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-
based and prevention-focused programs and activities
designed to strengthen and support families to prevent
child abuse and neglect (through networks where appro-
priate)’’;
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and training and
technical assistance, to the Statewide network of commu-
nity-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support
programs’’ and inserting ‘‘training, technical assistance,
and evaluation assistance, to community-based and preven-
tion-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen
and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect
(through networks where appropriate)’’; and
(D) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘, parents with
disabilities,’’ after ‘‘children with disabilities’’.
SEC. 123. AMOUNT OF GRANT.
Section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116b) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘as the amount leveraged by the State
from private, State, or other non-Federal sources and
directed through the’’ and inserting ‘‘as the amount of
private, State or other non-Federal funds leveraged and
directed through the currently designated’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘State lead agency’’ and inserting ‘‘State
lead entity’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘the lead agency’’ and inserting ‘‘the
current lead entity’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and
inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’.
SEC. 124. EXISTING GRANTS.
Section 204 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5115c) is repealed.
SEC. 125. APPLICATION.
Section 205 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116d) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Statewide network of
community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and sup-
port programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and preven-
tion-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen
and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect
(through networks where appropriate)’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘network of community-based, preven-
tion-focused, family resource and support programs’’ and
inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused pro-
grams and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through net-
works where appropriate)’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘, including those funded by programs
consolidated under this Act,’’;
(3) by striking paragraph (3), and inserting the following:
42 USC 5116c.
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117 STAT. 816
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
‘‘(3) a description of the inventory of current unmet needs
and current community-based and prevention-focused programs
and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect, and other
family resource services operating in the State;’’;
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘State’s network of commu-
nity-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support pro-
grams’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(5) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Statewide network of
community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and sup-
port programs’’ and inserting ‘‘start up, maintenance, expan-
sion, and redesign of community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(6) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘individual community-
based, prevention-focused, family resource and support pro-
grams’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(7) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘community-based, preven-
tion-focused, family resource and support programs’’ and
inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused programs
and activities designed to strengthen and support families to
prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(8) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘community-based, preven-
tion-focused, family resource and support programs’’ and
inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused programs
and activities designed to strengthen and support families to
prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(9) in paragraph (10), by inserting ‘‘(where appropriate)’’
after ‘‘members’’;
(10) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘prevention-focused,
family resource and support program’’ and inserting ‘‘commu-
nity-based and prevention-focused programs and activities
designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child
abuse and neglect’’; and
(11) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (12).
SEC. 126. LOCAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
Section 206(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116e(a)) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
‘‘prevention-focused, family resource and support programs’’ and
inserting ‘‘and prevention-focused programs and activities
designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child
abuse and neglect’’;
(2) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ‘‘voluntary home vis-
iting and’’ after ‘‘including’’; and
(3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
‘‘(6) participate with other community-based and preven-
tion-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen
and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect in
the development, operation and expansion of networks where
appropriate.’’.
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117 STAT. 817
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
SEC. 127. PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
Section 207 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116f) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a Statewide network
of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and
support programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and preven-
tion-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen
and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’;
(2) by striking paragraph (3), and inserting the following:
‘‘(3) shall demonstrate that they will have addressed unmet
needs identified by the inventory and description of current
services required under section 205(3);’’;
(3) in paragraph (4)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘and parents with disabilities,’’ after
‘‘children with disabilities,’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘evaluation of’’ the first place it appears
and all that follows through ‘‘under this title’’ and inserting
‘‘evaluation of community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect, and in the
design, operation and evaluation of the networks of such
community-based and prevention-focused programs’’;
(4) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘, prevention-focused,
family resource and support programs’’ and inserting ‘‘and
prevention-focused 
programs 
and 
activities 
designed 
to
strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and
neglect’’;
(5) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘Statewide network of
community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and sup-
port programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and preven-
tion-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen
and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’; and
(6) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘community based, preven-
tion-focused, family resource and support programs’’ and
inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-focused programs
and activities designed to strengthen and support families to
prevent child abuse and neglect’’.
SEC. 128. NATIONAL 
NETWORK 
FOR 
COMMUNITY-BASED 
FAMILY
RESOURCE PROGRAMS.
Section 208(3) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116g(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘Statewide net-
works of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and
support programs’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based and prevention-
focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect’’.
SEC. 129. DEFINITIONS.
(a) CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.—Section 209(1) of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116h(1)) is
amended by striking ‘‘given such term in section 602(a)(2)’’ and
inserting ‘‘given the term ‘child with a disability’ in section 602(3)
or ‘infant or toddler with a disability’ in section 632(5)’’.
(b) COMMUNITY-BASED
AND PREVENTION-FOCUSED PROGRAMS
AND ACTIVITIES TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.—Section
209 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C.
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117 STAT. 818
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
5116h) is amended by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(3) COMMUNITY-BASED
AND
PREVENTION-FOCUSED
PRO-
GRAMS
AND
ACTIVITIES
TO
PREVENT
CHILD
ABUSE
AND
NEGLECT.—The term ‘community-based and prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support
families to prevent child abuse and neglect’ includes organiza-
tions such as family resource programs, family support pro-
grams, voluntary home visiting programs, respite care pro-
grams, parenting education, mutual support programs, and
other community programs or networks of such programs that
provide activities that are designed to prevent or respond to
child abuse and neglect.’’.
SEC. 130. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 210 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (42 U.S.C. 5116i) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2008.’’.
Subtitle C—Conforming Amendments
SEC. 141. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
The table of contents of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treat-
ment Act, as contained in section 1(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
5101 note), is amended as follows:
(1) By striking the item relating to section 105 and
inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 105. Grants to States and public or private agencies and organizations.’’.
(2) By striking the item relating to title II and inserting
the following:
‘‘TITLE II—COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD
ABUSE AND NEGLECT.’’
(3) By striking the item relating to section 204.
TITLE II—ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES
SEC. 201. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PUR-
POSE.
Section 201 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5111) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(1) the number of children in substitute care has increased
by nearly 24 percent since 1994, as our Nation’s foster care
population included more than 565,000 as of September of
2001;
‘‘(2) children entering foster care have complex problems
that require intensive services, with many such children having
special needs because they are born to mothers who did not
receive prenatal care, are born with life threatening conditions
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117 STAT. 819
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
or disabilities, are born addicted to alcohol or other drugs,
or have been exposed to infection with the etiologic agent
for the human immunodeficiency virus;
‘‘(3) each year, thousands of children are in need of place-
ment in permanent, adoptive homes;’’;
(B) by striking paragraph (6);
(C) by striking paragraph (7)(A) and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(7)(A) currently, there are 131,000 children waiting for
adoption;’’; and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (7), (8), (9), and
(10) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) respectively;
and
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
‘‘, including geographic barriers,’’ after ‘‘barriers’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘a national’’ and
inserting ‘‘an Internet-based national’’.
SEC. 202. INFORMATION AND SERVICES.
Section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113) is amended—
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 203. INFORMATION AND SERVICES.’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘SEC. 203. (a) The Secretary’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’;
(3) in subsection (b)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—’’ after ‘‘(b)’’;
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’ each place
that such appears;
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(F) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘study the nature,
scope, and effects of’’ and insert ‘‘support’’;
(G) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(H) in paragraph (9)—
(i) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(I) in paragraph (10)—
(i) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’; each place that such
appears; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting
‘‘; and’’; and
(J) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(11) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with States,
local government entities, or public or private licensed child
welfare or adoption agencies) for the implementation of pro-
grams that are intended to increase the number of older chil-
dren (who are in foster care and with the goal of adoption)
placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on child-
specific recruitment strategies, including—
‘‘(A) outreach, public education, or media campaigns
to inform the public of the needs and numbers of older
youth available for adoption;
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‘‘(B) training of personnel in the special needs of older
youth and the successful strategies of child-focused, child-
specific recruitment efforts; and
‘‘(C) recruitment of prospective families for such chil-
dren.’’;
(4) in subsection (c)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(c) SERVICES FOR FAMILIES ADOPTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHIL-
DREN.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘(2) Services’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(2) SERVICES.—Services’’; and
(C) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by realigning the margins of subparagraphs
(A) through (G) accordingly;
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(iii) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period
and inserting a semicolon; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(H) day treatment; and
‘‘(I) respite care.’’; and
(D) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’; each place that such
appears;
(5) in subsection (d)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(d) IMPROVING PLACEMENT RATE
OF CHILDREN
IN FOSTER
CARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘(2)(A) Each State’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS; TECHNICAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(A) APPLICATIONS.—Each State’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘(B) The Secretary’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(B) TECHNICAL
AND
OTHER
ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary’’;
(D) in paragraph (2)(B)—
(i) by realigning the margins of clauses (i) and
(ii) accordingly; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘nonprofit’’;
(E) by striking ‘‘(3)(A) Payments’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(3) PAYMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Payments’’; and
(F) by striking ‘‘(B) Any payment’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(B) REVERSION
OF
UNUSED
FUNDS.—Any payment’’;
and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS TO ADOPTIONS ACROSS JURISDIC-
TIONAL BOUNDARIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants to,
or enter into contracts with, States, local government entities,
Grants.
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public or private child welfare or adoption agencies, adoption
exchanges, or adoption family groups to carry out initiatives
to improve efforts to eliminate barriers to placing children
for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries.
‘‘(2) SERVICES
TO
SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Services
provided under grants made under this subsection shall supple-
ment, not supplant, services provided using any other funds
made available for the same general purposes including—
‘‘(A) developing a uniform homestudy standard and
protocol for acceptance of homestudies between States and
jurisdictions;
‘‘(B) developing models of financing cross-jurisdictional
placements;
‘‘(C) expanding the capacity of all adoption exchanges
to serve increasing numbers of children;
‘‘(D) developing training materials and training social
workers on preparing and moving children across State
lines; and
‘‘(E) developing and supporting initiative models for
networking among agencies, adoption exchanges, and
parent support groups across jurisdictional boundaries.’’.
SEC. 203. STUDY OF ADOPTION PLACEMENTS.
Section 204 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5114) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
The’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘of the Keeping
Children and Families Safe Act of 2003’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘to determine the nature’’ and inserting
‘‘to determine—
‘‘(1) the nature’’;
(4) by striking ‘‘which are not licensed’’ and all that follows
through ‘‘entity’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) how interstate placements are being financed across
State lines;
‘‘(3) recommendations on best practice models for both
interstate and intrastate adoptions; and
‘‘(4) how State policies in defining special needs children
differentiate or group similar categories of children.’’.
SEC. 204. STUDIES ON SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS.
Section 204 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5114) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) DYNAMICS OF SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION.—The Secretary shall
conduct research (directly or by grant to, or contract with, public
or private nonprofit research agencies or organizations) about adop-
tion outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes. The Sec-
retary shall submit a report containing the results of such research
to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than the
date that is 36 months after the date of the enactment of the
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003.
‘‘(c) INTERJURISDICTIONAL ADOPTION.—Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of the Keeping Children and Fami-
lies Safe Act of 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of the Congress a report that contains recommendations
Reports.
Deadlines.
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for an action plan to facilitate the interjurisdictional adoption of
foster children.’’.
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 205(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5115(a)) is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for fiscal
year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2005 through 2008 to carry out programs and activities authorized
under this subtitle.’’.
TITLE III—ABANDONED INFANTS
ASSISTANCE
SEC. 301. FINDINGS.
Section 2 of the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988
(42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (1);
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘studies indicate that a number of
factors contribute to’’ before ‘‘the inability of’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘some’’ after ‘‘inability of’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘who abuse drugs’’; and
(D) by striking ‘‘care for such infants’’ and inserting
‘‘care for their infants’’;
(3) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
‘‘(5) appropriate training is needed for personnel working
with infants and young children with life-threatening conditions
and other special needs, including those who are infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus (commonly known as ‘HIV’),
those who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome (com-
monly known as ‘AIDS’), and those who have been exposed
to dangerous drugs;’’;
(4) by striking paragraphs (6) and (7);
(5) in paragraph (8)—
(A) by striking ‘‘such infants and young children’’ and
inserting ‘‘infants and young children who are abandoned
in hospitals’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘by parents abusing drugs,’’ after ‘‘defi-
ciency syndrome,’’;
(6) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘comprehensive services’’
and all that follows through the semicolon at the end and
inserting ‘‘comprehensive support services for such infants and
young children and their families and services to prevent the
abandonment of such infants and young children, including
foster care services, case management services, family support
services, respite and crisis intervention services, counseling
services, and group residential home services;’’;
(7) by striking paragraph (11);
(8) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (8), (9),
and (10) as paragraphs (1) through (7), respectively; and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(8) private, Federal, State, and local resources should be
coordinated to establish and maintain services described in
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117 STAT. 823
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paragraph (7) and to ensure the optimal use of all such
resources.’’.
SEC. 302. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL PROJECTS.
Section 101 of the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988
(42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended—
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL PROJECTS.’’;
and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) PRIORITY IN PROVISION OF SERVICES.—The Secretary may
not make a grant under subsection (a) unless the applicant for
the grant agrees to give priority to abandoned infants and young
children who—
‘‘(1) are infected with, or have been perinatally exposed
to, the human immunodeficiency virus, or have a life-threat-
ening illness or other special medical need; or
‘‘(2) have been perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug.’’.
SEC. 303. EVALUATIONS, STUDY, AND REPORTS BY SECRETARY.
Section 102 of the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988
(42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 102. EVALUATIONS, STUDY, AND REPORTS BY SECRETARY.
‘‘(a) EVALUATIONS OF LOCAL PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall,
directly or through contracts with public and nonprofit private
entities, provide for evaluations of projects carried out under section
101 and for the dissemination of information developed as a result
of such projects.
‘‘(b) STUDY AND REPORT ON NUMBER OF ABANDONED INFANTS
AND YOUNG CHILDREN.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a study
for the purpose of determining—
‘‘(A) an estimate of the annual number of infants and
young children relinquished, abandoned, or found deceased
in the United States and the number of such infants and
young children who are infants and young children
described in section 101(b);
‘‘(B) an estimate of the annual number of infants and
young children who are victims of homicide;
‘‘(C) characteristics and demographics of parents who
have abandoned an infant within 1 year of the infant’s
birth; and
‘‘(D) an estimate of the annual costs incurred by the
Federal Government and by State and local governments
in providing housing and care for abandoned infants and
young children.
‘‘(2) DEADLINE.—Not later than 36 months after the date
of enactment of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act
of 2003, the Secretary shall complete the study required under
paragraph (1) and submit to Congress a report describing the
findings made as a result of the study.
‘‘(c) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall evaluate and report on
effective methods of intervening before the abandonment of an
infant or young child so as to prevent such abandonments, and
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effective methods for responding to the needs of abandoned infants
and young children.’’.
SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 104 of the Abandoned Infants Assist-
ance Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—For the purpose of carrying out this
Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for
fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal
years 2005 through 2008.
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Not more than 5 percent of the amounts
appropriated under paragraph (1) for any fiscal year may be
obligated for carrying out section 102(a).’’;
(2) by striking subsection (b);
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘AUTHORIZATION.—’’ after ‘‘(1)’’ the
first place it appears; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘this title’’ and inserting ‘‘this Act’’;
and
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘LIMITATION.—’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1991.’’ and inserting
‘‘fiscal year 2003.’’; and
(4) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(b) and (c), respectively.
(b) REDESIGNATION.—The Abandoned Infants Assistance Act
of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended—
(1) by redesignating section 104 as section 302; and
(2) by moving that section 302 to the end of that Act.
SEC. 305. DEFINITIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301 of the Abandoned Infants Assist-
ance Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 670 note) is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this Act:
‘‘(1) ABANDONED; ABANDONMENT.—The terms ‘abandoned’
and ‘abandonment’, used with respect to infants and young
children, mean that the infants and young children are medi-
cally cleared for discharge from acute-care hospital settings,
but remain hospitalized because of a lack of appropriate out-
of-hospital placement alternatives.
‘‘(2) ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME.—The term
‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’ includes infection with
the etiologic agent for such syndrome, any condition indicating
that an individual is infected with such etiologic agent, and
any condition arising from such etiologic agent.
‘‘(3) DANGEROUS DRUG.—The term ‘dangerous drug’ means
a controlled substance, as defined in section 102 of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
‘‘(4) NATURAL FAMILY.—The term ‘natural family’ shall be
broadly interpreted to include natural parents, grandparents,
family members, guardians, children residing in the household,
and individuals residing in the household on a continuing basis
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who are in a care-giving situation, with respect to infants
and young children covered under this Act.
‘‘(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.’’.
(b) REPEAL.—Section 103 of the Abandoned Infants Assistance
Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 670 note) is repealed.
SEC. 306. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 421(7) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
(42 U.S.C. 5061(7)) is amended by striking ‘‘infant described in
section 103’’ and inserting ‘‘infant who is abandoned, as defined
in section 301’’.
TITLE IV—FAMILY VIOLENCE
PREVENTION AND SERVICES ACT
SEC. 401. STATE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS.
(a) UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.—Section 303(a)(2)(C) of the
Family 
Violence 
Prevention 
and 
Services 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
10402(a)(2)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘underserved populations,’’
and all that follows and inserting the following: ‘‘underserved popu-
lations, as defined in section 2007 of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg–2);’’.
(b) REPORT.—Section 303(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10402(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) Upon completion of the activities funded by a grant under
this title, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that
contains a description of the activities carried out under paragraph
(2)(B)(i).’’.
(c) CHILDREN WHO WITNESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.—Section 303
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10402) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as sub-
sections (d) through (g), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
‘‘(c) The Secretary shall use funds provided under section
310(a)(2), for a fiscal year described in section 310(a)(2), to award
grants for demonstration programs that provide—
‘‘(1) multisystem interventions and services (either directly
or by referral) for children who witness domestic violence; and
‘‘(2) training (either directly or by referral) for agencies,
providers, and other entities who work with such children.’’.
SEC. 402. SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
Section 305(a) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10404(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘an employee’’ and inserting ‘‘1 or more
employees’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘of this title.’’ and inserting ‘‘of this title,
including carrying out evaluation and monitoring under this
title.’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘The individual’’ and inserting ‘‘Any indi-
vidual’’.
SEC. 403. EVALUATION.
Section 306 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10405) is amended in the first sentence by striking
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‘‘Not later than two years after the date on which funds are obli-
gated under section 303(a) for the first time after the date of
the enactment of this title, and every two years thereafter,’’ and
inserting ‘‘Every 2 years,’’.
SEC. 404. INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS.
Section 308 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10407) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) NATIONAL
RESOURCE
CENTER.—The national resource
center established under subsection (a)(2)—
‘‘(1) shall offer resource, policy, collaboration, and training
assistance to Federal, State, and local government agencies,
to domestic violence service providers, and to other profes-
sionals and interested parties on issues pertaining to domestic
violence, including issues relating to children who witness
domestic violence; and
‘‘(2) shall maintain a central resource library in order to
collect, prepare, analyze, and disseminate information and
statistics, and analyses of the information and statistics,
relating to the incidence and prevention of family violence
(particularly the prevention of repeated incidents of violence)
and the provision of immediate shelter and related assistance.’’;
and
(2) by striking subsection (g).
SEC. 405. RELATED ASSISTANCE.
Section 309(5) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10408(5)) is amended by striking the second sentence
and inserting the following: ‘‘The term ‘related assistance’ shall
include—
‘‘(A) prevention services such as outreach and preven-
tion services for victims and their children, assistance to
children who witness domestic violence, employment
training, parenting and other educational services for vic-
tims and their children, preventive health services within
domestic violence programs (including services promoting
nutrition, disease prevention, exercise, and prevention of
substance abuse), domestic violence prevention programs
for school-age children, family violence public awareness
campaigns, and violence prevention counseling services to
abusers;
‘‘(B) counseling with respect to family violence, coun-
seling or other supportive services provided by peers
individually or in groups, and referral to community social
services;
‘‘(C) transportation, technical assistance with respect
to obtaining financial assistance under Federal and State
programs, and referrals for appropriate health care services
(including alcohol and drug abuse treatment), but shall
not include reimbursement for any health care services;
‘‘(D) legal advocacy to provide victims with information
and assistance through the civil and criminal courts, and
legal assistance; or
‘‘(E) children’s counseling and support services, and
child care services for children who are victims of family
violence or the dependents of such victims, and children
who witness domestic violence.’’.
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SEC. 406. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—Section 310(a) of the Family
Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10409(a)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out sections 303 through 311, $175,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
‘‘(2) PROJECTS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO WIT-
NESS
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.—For a fiscal year in which the
amounts 
appropriated 
under 
paragraph 
(1) 
exceed
$130,000,000, the Secretary shall reserve and make available
a portion of the excess to carry out section 303(c).’’.
(b) ALLOCATIONS FOR OTHER PROGRAMS.—Subsections (b), (c),
and (d) of section 310 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10409) are amended
by inserting ‘‘(and not reserved under subsection (a)(2))’’ after ‘‘each
fiscal year’’.
(c) GRANTS FOR STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COALITIONS.—Sec-
tion 311(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10410(g)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(g) FUNDING.—Of the amount appropriated under section
310(a) for a fiscal year (and not reserved under section 310(a)(2)),
not less than 10 percent of such amount shall be made available
to award grants under this section.’’.
SEC. 407. GRANTS FOR STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COALITIONS.
Section 311 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10410) is amended by striking subsection (h).
SEC. 408. EVALUATION AND MONITORING.
Section 312 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10412) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) Of the amount appropriated under section 310(a) for each
fiscal year (and not reserved under section 310(a)(2)), not more
than 2.5 percent shall be used by the Secretary for evaluation,
monitoring, and other administrative costs under this title.’’.
SEC. 409. FAMILY MEMBER ABUSE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTA-
TION PROJECT.
Section 313 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10413) is repealed.
SEC. 410. MODEL STATE LEADERSHIP GRANTS.
Section 315 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10415) is repealed.
SEC. 411. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE AND INTERNET
GRANT.
Section 316 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10416) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 316. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE AND INTERNET
GRANT.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 1 or more grants
to private, nonprofit entities—
‘‘(1) to provide for the establishment and operation of a
national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and
assistance to victims of domestic violence; or
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‘‘(2) to provide for the establishment and operation of a
highly secure Internet website to provide that information and
assistance to those victims.
‘‘(b) DURATION.—A grant under this section may extend over
a period of not more than 5 years.
‘‘(c) ANNUAL APPROVAL.—The provision of payments under a
grant awarded under this section shall be subject to annual approval
by the Secretary and subject to the availability of appropriations
for each fiscal year to make the payments.
‘‘(d) HOTLINE ACTIVITIES.—An entity that receives a grant under
this section for activities described, in whole or in part, in subsection
(a)(1) shall use funds made available through the grant to establish
and operate a national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide
information and assistance to victims of domestic violence. In estab-
lishing and operating the hotline, the entity shall—
‘‘(1) contract with a carrier for the use of a toll-free tele-
phone line;
‘‘(2) employ, train, and supervise personnel to answer
incoming calls and provide counseling and referral services
to callers on a 24-hour-a-day basis;
‘‘(3) assemble and maintain a current database of informa-
tion relating to services for victims of domestic violence to
which callers may be referred throughout the United States,
including information on the availability of shelters that serve
battered women; and
‘‘(4) publicize the hotline to potential users throughout
the United States.
‘‘(e) SECURE WEBSITE ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An entity that receives a grant under
this section for activities described, in whole or in part, in
subsection (a)(2) shall use funds made available through the
grant to provide grants for startup and operational costs associ-
ated with establishing and operating a highly secure Internet
website.
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.—The website shall be available to the
entity operating the hotline and domestic violence shelters.
‘‘(3) INFORMATION.—The website shall provide accurate
information that describes—
‘‘(A) the services available to victims of domestic
violence, including health care and mental health services,
social 
services, 
transportation, 
services 
for 
children
(including children who witness domestic violence), and
other relevant services; and
‘‘(B) the domestic violence shelters available, and serv-
ices provided by the shelters.
‘‘(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act shall
be construed to require any shelter or service provider, whether
public or private, to be linked to the website or to provide
information to the recipient of the grant described in paragraph
(1) or to the website.
‘‘(f) APPLICATION.—The Secretary may not award a grant under
this section unless the Secretary approves an application for such
grant. To be approved by the Secretary under this subsection an
application shall—
‘‘(1) contain such agreements, assurances, and information,
be in such form, and be submitted in such manner, as the
Secretary shall prescribe through notice in the Federal Register;
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PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
‘‘(2) in the case of an application for a grant to carry
out activities described in subsection (a)(1), include a complete
description of the applicant’s plan for the operation of a national
domestic violence hotline, including descriptions of—
‘‘(A) the training program for hotline personnel;
‘‘(B) the hiring criteria for hotline personnel;
‘‘(C) the methods for the creation, maintenance, and
updating of a resource database;
‘‘(D) a plan for publicizing the availability of the hot-
line;
‘‘(E) a plan for providing service to non-English
speaking callers, including service through hotline per-
sonnel who speak Spanish; and
‘‘(F) a plan for facilitating access to the hotline by
persons with hearing impairments;
‘‘(3) in the case of an application for a grant to carry
out activities described in subsection (a)(2)—
‘‘(A) include a complete description of the applicant’s
plan for the development, operation, maintenance, and
updating of information and resources of the website;
‘‘(B) include a certification that the applicant will
implement a high level security system to ensure the con-
fidentiality of the website, taking into consideration the
safety of domestic violence victims; and
‘‘(C) include an assurance that, after the third year
of the website project, the recipient of the grant will develop
a plan to secure other public or private funding resources
to ensure the continued operation and maintenance of the
website;
‘‘(4) demonstrate that the applicant has recognized exper-
tise in the area of domestic violence and a record of high
quality service to victims of domestic violence, including a dem-
onstration of support from advocacy groups;
‘‘(5) demonstrate that the applicant has a commitment
to diversity, and to the provision of services to ethnic, racial,
and non-English speaking minorities, in addition to older
individuals and individuals with disabilities; and
‘‘(6) contain such other information as the Secretary may
require.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years
2004 through 2008.
‘‘(2) CONDITIONS
ON
APPROPRIATIONS.—Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make available a portion
of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) to award
grants under subsection (a)(2) only for any fiscal year for which
the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) exceed
$3,000,000.
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY.—Funds authorized to be appropriated
under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.’’.
SEC. 412. YOUTH EDUCATION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Section 317 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10417) is repealed.
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PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
SEC. 413. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 318(h) of the Family Violence Preven-
tion and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10418(h)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.’’.
(b) REGULATIONS.—Section 318 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10418)
is amended by striking subsection (i).
SEC. 414. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
Section 319(f) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (42 U.S.C. 10419(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2001’’
and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2003 through 2008’’.
SEC. 415. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C.
10401 et seq.) is amended—
(1) in section 302(1) (42 U.S.C. 10401(1)) by striking ‘‘dem-
onstrate the effectiveness of assisting’’ and inserting ‘‘assist’’;
(2) in section 303(a) (42 U.S.C. 10402(a))—
(A) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘State domestic
violence coalitions knowledgeable individuals and
interested organizations’’ and inserting ‘‘State domestic
violence coalitions, knowledgeable individuals, and
interested organizations’’; and
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the
end; and
(B) by aligning the margins of paragraph (4) with
the margins of paragraph (3);
(3) in section 303(g) (as so redesignated)—
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘309(4)’’ and
inserting ‘‘320’’; and
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘309(5)(A)’’ and
inserting ‘‘320(5)(A)’’;
(4) in section 305(b)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 10404(b)(2)(A)) by
striking ‘‘provide for research, and into’’ and inserting ‘‘provide
for research into’’;
(5) by redesignating section 309 as section 320 and moving
that section to the end of the Act; and
(6) in section 311(a) (42 U.S.C. 10410(a))—
(A) in paragraph (2)(K), by striking ‘‘other criminal
justice professionals,;’’ and inserting ‘‘other criminal justice
professionals;’’ and
(B) in paragraph (3)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ‘‘family law judges,,’’ and inserting ‘‘family
law judges,’’;
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘, criminal
court judges,’’ after ‘‘family law judges’’; and
(iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘supervised
visitations that do not endanger victims and their chil-
dren’’ and inserting ‘‘supervised visitations or denial
of visitation to protect against danger to victims or
their children’’.
42 USC 10408,
10421.
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117 STAT. 831
PUBLIC LAW 108–36—JUNE 25, 2003
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 342 (H.R. 14):
HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 108–26 accompanying H.R. 14 (Comm. on Education and
the Workforce) and 108–150 (Comm. of Conference).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 108–12 (Comm. on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):
Mar. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Mar. 26, considered and passed House, amended.
June 17, House agreed to conference report.
June 19, Senate agreed to conference report.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 39 (2003):
June 25, Presidential statement.
SEC. 416. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO ANOTHER ACT.
Section 102(42) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3002(42)) is amended by striking ‘‘(42 U.S.C. 10408)’’.
Approved June 25, 2003.
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