Bill > HR4127

This bill establishes a comprehensive pilot program to address technological abuse in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill first acknowledges the significant prevalence of technological abuse, noting that 97% of victim support programs report abusers using technology to stalk, harass, or control victims, with specific statistics showing how technology is used for unwanted communication, monitoring, and harassment. The pilot program, to be managed by the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, will award up to 15 grants of up to $2 million each to "eligible consortia" - partnerships between higher education institutions or technical workforce partners and domestic violence centers. These grants can be used to purchase technological devices for victims, provide victim services, and reduce technological abuse. The bill also creates a complementary grant program to develop training and educational materials for organizations supporting technological abuse victims, with up to $20 million available over five years. Additionally, the bill requires the Director to submit reports to Congress evaluating the pilot program's effectiveness after three and five years, with potential recommendations for making the program permanent. The overall goal is to integrate technological expertise into survivor support networks to help prevent and shield survivors from technological abuse.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4127/all-info