Legis Daily

Respect for Child Survivors Act

USA117th CongressS-4926| Senate 
| Updated: 1/5/2023
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

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Timeline
Sep 22, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Sep 22, 2022
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-9043
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Dec 13, 2022
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)
Dec 13, 2022
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)
Dec 13, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149)
Dec 13, 2022
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 14, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 14, 2022
Received in the House.
Dec 14, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 21, 2022
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 21, 2022
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9927-9931)
Dec 21, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4926.
Dec 21, 2022
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.
Dec 22, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9976-9977)
Dec 22, 2022
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)
View Vote
Dec 22, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 28, 2022
Presented to President.
Jan 5, 2023
Signed by President.
Jan 5, 2023
Became Public Law No: 117-354.
  • September 22, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 22, 2022
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-9043
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • December 13, 2022
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)


  • December 13, 2022
    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)


  • December 13, 2022
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149)


  • December 13, 2022
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 14, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 14, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • December 14, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 21, 2022
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 21, 2022
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9927-9931)


  • December 21, 2022
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4926.


  • December 21, 2022
    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.


  • December 22, 2022
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9976-9977)


  • December 22, 2022
    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)
    View Vote


  • December 22, 2022
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 28, 2022
    Presented to President.


  • January 5, 2023
    Signed by President.


  • January 5, 2023
    Became Public Law No: 117-354.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 117-9043: Respect for Child Survivors Act
  • S 117-3975: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022
  • HR 117-7419: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022
Child healthChild safety and welfareCommunity life and organizationCrimes against childrenCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDomestic violence and child abuseFamily servicesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth programs administration and fundingHuman traffickingLaw enforcement administration and fundingMental healthPublic-private cooperationSex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Respect for Child Survivors Act

USA117th CongressS-4926| Senate 
| Updated: 1/5/2023
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 22, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Sep 22, 2022
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-9043
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Dec 13, 2022
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)
Dec 13, 2022
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)
Dec 13, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149)
Dec 13, 2022
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 14, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 14, 2022
Received in the House.
Dec 14, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 21, 2022
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 21, 2022
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9927-9931)
Dec 21, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4926.
Dec 21, 2022
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.
Dec 22, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9976-9977)
Dec 22, 2022
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)
View Vote
Dec 22, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 28, 2022
Presented to President.
Jan 5, 2023
Signed by President.
Jan 5, 2023
Became Public Law No: 117-354.
  • September 22, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 22, 2022
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-9043
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • December 13, 2022
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7146-7147)


  • December 13, 2022
    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)


  • December 13, 2022
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149)


  • December 13, 2022
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 14, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 14, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • December 14, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 21, 2022
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 21, 2022
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9927-9931)


  • December 21, 2022
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4926.


  • December 21, 2022
    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.


  • December 22, 2022
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9976-9977)


  • December 22, 2022
    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)
    View Vote


  • December 22, 2022
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 28, 2022
    Presented to President.


  • January 5, 2023
    Signed by President.


  • January 5, 2023
    Became Public Law No: 117-354.
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 117-9043: Respect for Child Survivors Act
  • S 117-3975: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022
  • HR 117-7419: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Child healthChild safety and welfareCommunity life and organizationCrimes against childrenCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDomestic violence and child abuseFamily servicesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth programs administration and fundingHuman traffickingLaw enforcement administration and fundingMental healthPublic-private cooperationSex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations