Sec. 544. Pilot program on financial assistance for victims of domestic violence
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/bill/117/hr/7900/eh/section-544A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary makes grants, on a discretionary basis, to qualified victims of domestic violence to assist such victims in seeking refuge from an abuser. A grant under subsection
(a)may be disbursed— as a single, lump sum payment; or in multiple payments at such times and in such amounts as the Secretary determines appropriate. A qualified victim of domestic violence may receive not more than a total of $7,500 in grants under subsection
(a)during the victim’s lifetime. Not later than one year prior to the termination date specified in subsection (e), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that— evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program under this section; indicates whether the pilot program should be continued or expanded; takes into account voluntary feedback from program recipients and relevant Department staff, including direct testimonials about their experiences with the program and ways in which they think it could be improved; and examines other potential actions that arise during the course of the program that the Department could take to further protect the safety of program participants and eligible individuals, as the Secretary determines appropriate. The authority to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate six years after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations implementing this section. In this section: The term domestic violence means an act described in section 928b of title 10, United States Code (article 128b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). The term qualified victim of domestic violence means an individual who meets the following criteria: The individual is a member of an Armed Force or a spouse, intimate partner, or immediate family member of a member of an Armed Force. The individual reported an incident of domestic violence to an organization or element of the Department of Defense or to a civilian law enforcement organization. The individual or a dependent of that individual was an alleged victim of such incident. The individual demonstrates— an intent to seek refuge from the alleged abuser; and a need for financial assistance.