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Public Law117th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement
S. 4926Became Law

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This bill became law

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Law

What it doesSummary public law (Jan 5, 2023)

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This act requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to use a multidisciplinary team with investigations of child abuse and related crimes. The act also reauthorizes grants for children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs use a multidisciplinary response to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.

(Sec. 2) This section requires the FBI to use a multidisciplinary team with any investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual abuse material, or child trafficking. The FBI must also use a trained child adolescent forensic interviewer in these investigations. These requirements do not apply if a multidisciplinary team or an interviewer is unavailable or is otherwise inconsistent with applicable federal law.

In implementing these requirements, the FBI must use and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams based at CACs.

(Sec. 3) This section modifies and reauthorizes through FY2028 grants for regional and local CACs, as well as for technical assistance and training. Grants for CACs are administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) within the Department of Justice.

It adds a finding stating that a key to a child victim healing from abuse is access to supportive and healthy families and communities.

The section modifies grant provisions for regional CACs, including by

  • directing the OJJDP to maintain (in addition to establish) regional CACs;
  • adding, as a new program objective, the provision of technical assistance, training, coordination, and organizational capacity support for state chapters; and
  • requiring the OJJDP to consider, as an additional selection criteria, proposals for regional CACs that best result in supporting state chapters.

The section also modifies grant provisions for local CACs, including by adding as new grant purposes (1) the establishment and maintenance of a network of care for child abuse victims, and (2) the development and dissemination of practice standards for care and best practices in program evaluation.

Finally, the section modifies the criteria that the OJJDP may use to evaluate local CAC programs.

What just happenedJan 5, 2023

Became Public Law No: 117-354.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX](R-TX)Sponsor
3 cosponsors2 D1 R
Read on Congress.gov
3cosponsors1committees24actions1amendments3related bills18subjects
  1. Jan 5, 2023President

    Became Public Law No: 117-354.

  2. Jan 5, 2023BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 117-354.

  3. Jan 5, 2023President

    Signed by President.

  4. Jan 5, 2023BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 28, 2022Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 28, 2022President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 21, 2022FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. Dec 21, 2022FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 385 - 28 (Roll no. 534). (text: CR H9927-9929)

  9. Dec 21, 2022Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 385 - 28 (Roll no. 534).(text: CR H9927-9929)

  10. Dec 21, 2022FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9976-9977)

  11. Dec 21, 2022FloorH37220

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  12. Dec 21, 2022FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4926.

  13. Dec 21, 2022FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9927-9931)

  14. Dec 21, 2022FloorH30300

    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  15. Dec 14, 2022FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  16. Dec 14, 2022FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  17. Dec 14, 2022Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  18. Dec 13, 2022Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)

  19. Dec 13, 2022Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)

  20. Dec 13, 2022Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149)

  21. Dec 13, 2022Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  22. Dec 13, 2022Committee14500

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  23. Sep 22, 2022IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  24. Sep 22, 2022IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawJan 5, 202349

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This act requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to use a multidisciplinary team with investigations of child abuse and related crimes. The act also reauthorizes grants for children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs use a multidisciplinary response to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.

(Sec. 2) This section requires the FBI to use a multidisciplinary team with any investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual abuse material, or child trafficking. The FBI must also use a trained child adolescent forensic interviewer in these investigations. These requirements do not apply if a multidisciplinary team or an interviewer is unavailable or is otherwise inconsistent with applicable federal law.

In implementing these requirements, the FBI must use and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams based at CACs.

(Sec. 3) This section modifies and reauthorizes through FY2028 grants for regional and local CACs, as well as for technical assistance and training. Grants for CACs are administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) within the Department of Justice.

It adds a finding stating that a key to a child victim healing from abuse is access to supportive and healthy families and communities.

The section modifies grant provisions for regional CACs, including by

  • directing the OJJDP to maintain (in addition to establish) regional CACs;
  • adding, as a new program objective, the provision of technical assistance, training, coordination, and organizational capacity support for state chapters; and
  • requiring the OJJDP to consider, as an additional selection criteria, proposals for regional CACs that best result in supporting state chapters.

The section also modifies grant provisions for local CACs, including by adding as new grant purposes (1) the establishment and maintenance of a network of care for child abuse victims, and (2) the development and dissemination of practice standards for care and best practices in program evaluation.

Finally, the section modifies the criteria that the OJJDP may use to evaluate local CAC programs.

Passed HouseDec 21, 202253

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use a multidisciplinary team with investigations of child abuse and related crimes. The bill also reauthorizes grants for children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs use a multidisciplinary response to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.

Passed SenateDec 13, 202255

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use a multidisciplinary team with investigations of child abuse and related crimes. The bill also reauthorizes grants for children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs use a multidisciplinary response to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.

Introduced in SenateSep 22, 2022

Respect for Child Survivors Act

This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to use a multidisciplinary approach with any investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual abuse material, or child trafficking. The FBI must also use a trained child adolescent forensic interviewer in these investigations if practicable and consistent with applicable federal law.

In implementing a multidisciplinary approach, the bill requires the FBI to use and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams based at children's advocacy centers.

Respect for Child Survivors Act — Informed