[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 909 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 909
To protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and
dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts
of violence or threats of violence against their pets.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2017
Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Denham,
Mrs. Mimi Walters of California, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Nadler, Mr.
Larsen of Washington, Mr. Cardenas, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Keating, Ms.
Jackson Lee, Mr. Foster, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Smith of
Washington, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Speier, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms.
Slaughter, Mr. Cartwright, Ms. Sinema, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Lynch, Ms.
McCollum, Mr. Engel, Mr. Connolly, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Delaney, Mr.
Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Yoder, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Crowley, Ms. DeLauro,
Ms. Tsongas, Ms. Titus, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Norton, Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson of Texas, Mr. Peters, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Veasey, Mr.
Swalwell of California, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Michael F. Doyle
of Pennsylvania, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney
of New York, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Jenkins of Kansas, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr.
Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Buchanan, Ms. Brownley of California, Mrs.
Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Norcross, Ms. Wilson of
Florida, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Barletta, Mrs. Comstock, Ms.
Kaptur, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Ms. Sanchez, Miss Rice of New
York, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of
New Mexico, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Dent, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. O'Rourke,
Mr. Khanna, Mr. Faso, Mr. Walz, Mr. Polis, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Kildee,
Mr. Schrader, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. Lee, Mr. Cicilline, Mr.
Ellison, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Judy Chu of California,
Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Curbelo of Florida, Mr.
Jones, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Loebsack, Mr. Costa, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Jayapal,
Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Payne, Ms. Castor of
Florida, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Sires, Mr. Ted Lieu of
California, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Calvert,
Mr. Poliquin, Ms. Esty, Mr. Welch, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Takano, Mr. Brady
of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr.
Soto, Mrs. Bustos, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Stefanik, Mrs. Wagner, Mr.
Pallone, Mr. Clay, Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania, Mr. Perry, Mr.
Stivers, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Moore, Mr.
McCaul, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Heck,
Mr. Rush, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Ms.
Schakowsky, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Marino, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Sablan,
Ms. Frankel of Florida, Ms. Hanabusa, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Price of North
Carolina, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Beyer, Mrs. Torres, Mr.
Gaetz, Mr. Chabot, Ms. McSally, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr.
Donovan, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Raskin, Mr.
Jeffries, Ms. Matsui, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. O'Halleran, Ms. Meng, Mr. Bishop
of Michigan, Ms. Bass, Mr. Katko, Mr. Neal, Mr. Paulsen, and Mr.
Huffman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and
dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts
of violence or threats of violence against their pets.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. PET INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
STALKING.
(a) Interstate Stalking.--Section 2261A of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
and
(B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) the pet of that person; or''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(A) by inserting after ``to a person'' the
following: ``or a pet''; and
(B) by striking ``or (iii)'' and inserting ``(iii),
or (iv)''.
(b) Interstate Violation of Protection Order.--Section 2262 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``another
person'' the following: ``or the pet of that person'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting after
``proximity to, another person'' the following ``or the
pet of that person''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting after ``in any other
case,'' the following: ``including any case in which the
offense is committed against a pet,''.
(c) Restitution To Include Veterinary Services.--Section 2264 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended in subsection (b)(3)--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) veterinary services relating to physical care
for the victim's pet; and''.
(d) Pet Defined.--Section 2266 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
``(11) Pet.--The term `pet' means a domesticated animal,
such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
purposes.''.
SEC. 3. EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL PET SHELTER AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE
GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting in consultation with
the Office of the Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice,
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall award grants under this section to
eligible entities to carry out programs to provide the assistance
described in subsection (c) with respect to victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the pets of
such victims.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may reasonably require, including--
(A) a description of the activities for which a
grant under this section is sought;
(B) such assurances as the Secretary determines to
be necessary to ensure compliance by the entity with
the requirements of this section; and
(C) a certification that the entity, before
engaging with any individual domestic violence victim,
will disclose to the victim any mandatory duty of the
entity to report instances of abuse and neglect
(including instances of abuse and neglect of pets).
(2) Additional requirements.--In addition to the
requirements of paragraph (1), each application submitted by an
eligible entity under that paragraph shall--
(A) not include proposals for any activities that
may compromise the safety of a domestic violence
victim, including--
(i) background checks of domestic violence
victims; or
(ii) clinical evaluations to determine the
eligibility of such a victim for support
services;
(B) not include proposals that would require
mandatory services for victims or that a victim obtain
a protective order in order to receive proposed
services; and
(C) reflect the eligible entity's understanding of
the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, or stalking.
(3) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to require--
(A) domestic violence victims to participate in the
criminal justice system in order to receive services;
or
(B) eligible entities receiving a grant under this
section to breach client confidentiality.
(c) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section may only be
used for programs that provide--
(1) emergency and transitional shelter and housing
assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, including
assistance with respect to any construction or operating
expenses of newly developed or existing emergency and
transitional pet shelter and housing (regardless of whether
such shelter and housing is co-located at a victim service
provider or within the community);
(2) short-term shelter and housing assistance for domestic
violence victims with pets, including assistance with respect
to expenses incurred for the temporary shelter, housing,
boarding, or fostering of the pets of domestic violence victims
and other expenses that are incidental to securing the safety
of such a pet during the sheltering, housing, or relocation of
such victims;
(3) support services designed to enable a domestic violence
victim who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking to--
(A) locate and secure--
(i) safe housing with the victim's pet; or
(ii) safe accommodations for the victim's
pet; or
(B) provide the victim with pet-related services,
such as pet transportation, pet care services, and
other assistance; or
(4) for the training of relevant stakeholders on--
(A) the link between domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the abuse and
neglect of pets;
(B) the needs of domestic violence victims;
(C) best practices for providing support services
to such victims;
(D) best practices for providing such victims with
referrals to victims' services; and
(E) the importance of confidentiality.
(d) Grant Conditions.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section shall, as a condition of such receipt, agree--
(1) to be bound by the nondisclosure of confidential
information requirements of section 40002(b)(2) of the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2)); and
(2) that the entity shall not condition the receipt of
support, housing, or other benefits provided pursuant to this
section on the participation of domestic violence victims in
any or all of the support services offered to such victims
through a program carried out by the entity using grant funds.
(e) Duration of Assistance Provided to Victims.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance
provided with respect to a pet of a domestic violence victim
using grant funds awarded under this section shall be provided
for a period of not more than 24 months.
(2) Extension.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section may extend the 24-month period referred to
in paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 6 months in the
case of a domestic violence victim who--
(A) has made a good faith effort to acquire
permanent housing for the victim's pet during that 24-
month period; and
(B) has been unable to acquire such permanent
housing within that period.
(f) Report to the Secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the date
on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section and
each year thereafter, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report
that contains, with respect to assistance provided by the entity to
domestic violence victims with pets using grant funds received under
this section, information on--
(1) the number of domestic violence victims with pets
provided such assistance; and
(2) the purpose, amount, type of, and duration of such
assistance.
(g) Report to Congress.--
(1) Reporting requirement.--Not later than November 1 of
each even-numbered fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the
information contained in the reports submitted under subsection
(f).
(2) Availability of report.--The Secretary shall transmit a
copy of the report submitted under paragraph (1) to--
(A) the Office on Violence Against Women of the
Department of Justice;
(B) the Office of Community Planning and
Development of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and
(C) the Administration for Children and Families of
the Department of Health and Human Services.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
through 2021.
(2) Limitation.--Of the amount made available under
paragraph (1) in any fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may
be used for evaluation, monitoring, salaries, and
administrative expenses.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Domestic violence victim defined.--The term ``domestic
violence victim'' means a victim of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a unit of local government;
(C) an Indian tribe; or
(D) any other organization that has a documented
history of effective work concerning domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (as
determined by the Secretary), including--
(i) a domestic violence and sexual assault
victim service provider;
(ii) a domestic violence and sexual assault
coalition;
(iii) a community-based and culturally
specific organization;
(iv) any other nonprofit, nongovernmental
organization; and
(v) any organization that works directly
with pets and collaborates with any
organization referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv), including--
(I) an animal shelter; and
(II) an animal welfare
organization.
(3) Pet.--The term ``pet'' means a domesticated animal,
such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
purposes.
(4) Other terms.--Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, terms used in this section shall have the meaning
given such terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)).
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that States should encourage the
inclusion of protections against violent or threatening acts against
the pet of a person in domestic violence protection orders.
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