Judiciary Bill IV
S 161 IS
A BILL
To
establish the Violence Against Women Office within the Department of Justice.
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 `Violence Against Women Office Act'.
SEC.
2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE.
(a)
OFFICE- There is established within the Department of Justice, under the general
authority of the Attorney General, a Violence Against Women Office (in this Act
referred to as the `Office').
(b)
DIRECTOR-
(1)
IN GENERAL- The Office shall be headed by a Director (in this Act referred to as
the `Director'), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
(2)
AUTHORITY- The Director shall--
(A)
report to the Attorney General through the Associate Attorney General; and
(B)
have final authority for all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts
awarded by the Office.
(3)
OTHER EMPLOYMENT- The Director shall not--
(A)
engage in any employment other than that of serving as the Director; or
(B)
hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any organization, agency, or
institution with which the Office makes any contract or other arrangement under
this Act.
SEC.
3. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTOR OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE.
(a)
IN GENERAL- The Director shall have the following duties:
(1)
Serving as special counsel to the Attorney General on the subject of violence
against women.
(2)
Maintaining liaison with the judicial branches of the Federal and State
Governments on matters relating to violence against women.
(3)
Providing information to the President, the Congress, the judiciary , State and
local governments, and the general public on matters relating to violence
against women.
(4)
Serving, at the request of the Attorney General or Associate Attorney General,
as the representative of the Department of Justice on domestic task forces,
committees, or commissions addressing policy or issues relating to violence
against women.
(5)
Serving, at the request of the President, acting through the Attorney General,
as the representative of the United States Government on human rights and
economic justice matters related to violence against women in international
forums, including the United Nations.
(6)
Carrying out the functions of the Department of Justice under the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (title IV of Public Law 103-322) and the amendments
made by that Act, and other functions of the Department of Justice on matters
relating to violence against women, including with respect to those functions--
(A)
the development of policy, protocols, and guidelines;
(B)
the development and management of grant programs and other programs, and the
provision of technical assistance under such programs; and
(C)
the award and termination of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.
(7)
Providing technical assistance, coordination, and support to--
(A)
other elements of the Department of Justice, in efforts to develop policy and to
enforce Federal laws relating to violence against women, including the
litigation of civil and criminal actions relating to enforcing such laws;
(B)
other Federal, State, and tribal agencies, in efforts to develop policy, provide
technical assistance, and improve coordination among agencies carrying out
efforts to eliminate violence against women, including Indian or indigenous
women; and
(C)
grantees, in efforts to combat violence against women and to provide support and
assistance to victims of such violence.
(8)
Exercising such other powers and functions as may be vested in the Director
pursuant to this Act or by delegation of the Attorney General or Associate
Attorney General.
(9)
Establishing such rules, regulations, guidelines, and procedures as are
necessary to carry out any function of the Office.
SEC.
4. STAFF OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE.
The
Attorney General shall ensure that the Director has adequate staff to support
the Director in carrying out the Director's responsibilities under this Act.