Military Family Violence Prevention Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to take various actions and implement programs related to the prevention of and response to domestic violence and child abuse and neglect among military families.
Specifically, the bill requires DOD to
Each military department must improve the information available to military families on the services available in connection with domestic abuse or child abuse and neglect.
Finally, the bill requires the Inspector General of DOD to report on best practices among military installations in prevention and response to domestic abuse and child abuse and neglect among military families.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2146 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2146
To expand and enhance programs and activities of the Department of
Defense for prevention of and response to domestic abuse and child
abuse and neglect among military families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 23, 2021
Mr. Joyce of Ohio (for himself and Ms. Kuster) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand and enhance programs and activities of the Department of
Defense for prevention of and response to domestic abuse and child
abuse and neglect among military families, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Family Violence Prevention
Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORTS ON STAFFING LEVELS FOR THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.
Not later than six months after the deployment of the Military
Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) Family Advocacy Program Staffing
Tool, and every year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to Congress a report setting forth the following:
(1) Current staffing levels for the Family Advocacy
Programs (FAPs) of the Armed Forces at each installation so
staffed.
(2) Recommendations for ideal staffing levels for the
Family Advocacy Programs, as identified by the staffing tool,
set forth, at the election of the Secretary, by Armed Force or
by installation.
SEC. 3. SHARING AMONG THE ARMED FORCES OF DATA ON INCIDENTS REPORTED TO
THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.
Commencing not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that appropriate
statistical data on incidents reported to the Family Advocacy Programs
(FAPs) of the Armed Forces is shared among and across the Armed Forces.
SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR AWARENESS OF MILITARY FAMILIES
REGARDING FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS AND OTHER SIMILAR
SERVICES.
(a) Pilot Program on Information on FAPs for Families Enrolling in
DEERS.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to
assess the feasibility and advisability of various mechanisms to inform
families about the Family Advocacy Programs (FAPs) and resiliency
training of the Armed Forces during their enrollment in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). The matters assessed
by the pilot program shall include the following:
(1) An option for training of family members on the Family
Advocacy Programs.
(2) The provision to families of information on the
resources available through the Family Advocacy Programs.
(3) The availability through the Family Advocacy Programs
of both restricting and unrestricted reporting on incidents of
domestic abuse.
(4) The provision to families of information on the
Military OneSource program of the Department of Defense.
(5) The provision to families of information on resources
relating to domestic abuse and child abuse and neglect that are
available through local community service organizations.
(6) The availability of the Military and Family Life
Counseling Program.
(b) Outreach on FAP and Similar Services for Military Families.--
Each Secretary of a military department shall improve the information
available to military families under the jurisdiction of such Secretary
that are the victim of domestic abuse or child abuse and neglect in
order to provide such families with comprehensive information on the
services available to such families in connection with such violence
and abuse and neglect. The information so provided shall include a
complete guide to the following:
(1) The Family Advocacy Program of the Armed Force or
military department concerned.
(2) Military law enforcement services, including the
process following a report of an incidence of domestic abuse or
child abuse or neglect.
(3) Other applicable victim services.
SEC. 5. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN IN THE SERVICES
REPORT ON INITIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR SUPPORT FOR MILITARY
FAMILIES IN CONNECTION WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report setting forth the results of a study, conducted by
the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services
(DACOWITS) for purposes of the report, on initial entry points
(including anonymous entry points) for use by members of military
families in seeking support for domestic abuse or child abuse and
neglect, including online chat rooms and other support, text-based
support, and applications on smartphones.
SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT OF COLLABORATION IN DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION
SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, Department of Defense Instruction 6400.01,
relating to the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) of the Department of
Defense, shall be modified to enhance collaboration among the programs
and components specified in subsection (b) for the purpose of
leveraging the expertise and resources of such programs and components
to order to improve the availability and scope of domestic abuse
prevention services for military families.
(b) Programs and Components.--The programs and components specified
in this subsection are the following:
(1) The Family Advocacy Program.
(2) The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Officer
(SAPRO) of the Department of Defense.
(3) the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO).
(4) The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
(DEOMI).
(5) The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA).
(6) The substance abuse prevention programs and components
of the Armed Forces.
(7) Such other programs and components of the Department of
Defense as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
SEC. 7. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE EXCEPTIONAL ELIGIBILITY
FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OR FORMER
MEMBERS SEPARATED FOR DEPENDENT ABUSE.
Section 1059(m)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``below the assistant Secretary level. Any exercise of such
delegated authority shall be reported to the Secretary concerned on a
quarterly basis'' after ``may not be delegated''.
SEC. 8. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REPORT ON BEST
PRACTICES IN PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC ABUSE
AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AMONG MILITARY FAMILIES.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of
Defense shall submit to the Secretary of Defense, and to the
congressional defense committees, a report on best practices among
military installations in prevention and response to domestic abuse and
child abuse and neglect among military families.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An identification and assessment of best practices
among military installations in prevention and response to
domestic abuse and child abuse and neglect among military
families in connection with the following:
(A) Installation leadership.
(B) Communication between the Family Advocacy
Program and the installation command team.
(C) Elimination of or reduction in barriers to
effective incident response.
(2) Recommendations for mechanisms, at the installation,
Armed Force, and military department level, to identify and
assess lessons learned through programs, projects, and
activities for prevention and response to domestic abuse and
child abuse and neglect among military families.
(3) An identification and assessment of resources in
communities surrounding military installations that could
assist in prevention and response to domestic abuse and child
abuse and neglect among military families.
(4) An assessment of the benefits of bidirectional
relationships involving the community resources identified
pursuant to paragraph (3).
(5) Recommendations for memoranda of understanding, or
other formal relationships, between installations and
surrounding communities on the shared use of resources
identified pursuant to paragraph (3), including recommendations
on mechanisms for expediting entry into such memoranda of
understanding.
(6) Such other matters regarding best practices among
military installations in prevention and response to domestic
abuse and child abuse and neglect among military families as
the Inspector General considers appropriate.
(c) Guidance Authorized in Light of Report.--Each Secretary of a
military department may issue guidance for commanders of installations
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary on best practices in
prevention and response to domestic abuse and child abuse and neglect
among military families at such installations in light of the matters
included in the report of the Inspector General under subsection (a).
SEC. 9. CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``congressional defense committees'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United
States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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