Better Care For Domestic Violence Survivors Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5702

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-06: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-12-09T18:28:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Better Care For Domestic Violence Survivors Act" (H.R. 5702) aims to improve support for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by ensuring healthcare providers and related professionals receive specialized training. It focuses on trauma-informed (recognizing the effects of trauma) and victim-centered (prioritizing the survivor's needs and experiences) approaches to prevent re-traumatization and enhance responses.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program: The Attorney General (through the Office on Violence Against Women) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services will award competitive grants to eligible entities, such as hospitals, outpatient facilities, community health centers, and migrant health centers. These entities must partner with victim services organizations to implement a demonstration program.
• Training Requirements: Grants fund training for "covered individuals" (people who interact with victims, including healthcare workers, school staff, campus police, school resource officers, and emergency services employees). Training emphasizes evidence-based techniques to:
• Identify and treat cases of violence without re-traumatizing victims.
• Handle complex cases, such as those involving substances, strangulation, non-stranger perpetrators, same-sex relationships, disabilities, male victims, or LGBTQ+ victims.
• Foster collaboration between healthcare providers, law enforcement, and communities.
• Promote culturally and linguistically appropriate responses.
• Program Scope: Grants will be awarded across diverse settings, including urban, suburban, Tribal, remote, rural areas, college campuses, and underserved communities.
• Use of Funds: Recipients must train staff, develop community relationships, and promote the program through websites, social media, print materials, and meetings to ensure broad awareness and inclusion.
• Existing Trainings: The program builds on pre-existing trainings that cover trauma responses, impacts on victims, and medical treatment for violence-related injuries. Grantees select and test these approaches.
• Evaluations: Grantees must partner with researchers to collect data, conduct independent evaluations, and share preliminary results and recommendations publicly during the grant period. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on implementation is required within three years of enactment.
• Funding: Authorizes $10 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to the Attorney General for the program.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Subtitle Q of Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (which addresses violence against women) by adding a new section (41702) for the demonstration program. It introduces a focused grant initiative for healthcare training, which did not previously exist in this subtitle, and updates the table of contents accordingly. No other major alterations to the 1994 Act are made.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will oversee grants, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving coordination on victim services. The GAO report could inform future federal policies.
• Citizens: Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking may receive more sensitive, effective care, reducing re-traumatization and improving identification of cases. Broader community awareness could encourage reporting and support-seeking, especially in underserved areas.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is domestic-focused.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Survivors and Victims: Primary beneficiaries through better-trained responders and reduced barriers to care.
• Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Eligible entities receiving grants to train staff and improve services.
• Victim Services Organizations: Mandatory partners in grant implementation, enhancing their role in community responses.
• Educational and Emergency Personnel: Covered individuals like school staff, campus officers, and emergency workers who receive training.
• Communities: Particularly urban, rural, Tribal, underserved, and LGBTQ+ groups, with emphasis on inclusive approaches.
• Federal Agencies: DOJ and HHS for program administration; National Institute of Justice for evaluation support.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes a time-limited demonstration program with built-in evaluations, allowing for evidence-based expansion without immediate mandates. It aligns with existing federal violence prevention laws but adds specificity to healthcare responses.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports equal protection by addressing vulnerabilities of diverse groups (e.g., based on gender, disability, or sexual orientation) without infringing on rights.
• Political: Builds on the 1994 Act's framework for violence against women, potentially advancing bipartisan support for victim services. Success could influence future appropriations or similar programs, but funding is capped and temporary, limiting long-term commitments.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-06: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-10-06: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Better Care For Domestic Violence Survivors Act — issued 2025-10-06 — PDF (9 pages)