Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1991 To direct the Attorney General to conduct studies on child custody and divorce in domestic violence cases, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 17, 2021 Mrs. TORRES of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To direct the Attorney General to conduct studies on child custody and divorce in domestic violence cases, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting Victims 4 of Domestic Violence Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. STUDY ON CHILD CUSTODY IN DOMESTIC VIO- 6 LENCE CASES. 7 The Attorney General, in consultation with the Sec- 8 retary of Health and Human Services, shall conduct a 9 study investigating whether victims who raise evidence of 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 May 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1991.IH H1991 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1991 IH domestic violence are more likely to lose primary custody 1 of children to an abusive partner or to the State, includ- 2 ing— 3 (1) a review of State laws, regulations, and 4 practices on how child neglect and custody situations 5 are handled in domestic violence situations; and 6 (2) a list of recommendations on how to re- 7 structure State laws, regulations, and practices to 8 better protect victims of domestic violence and their 9 children. 10 SEC. 3. STUDY ON COSTS OF DIVORCE IN DOMESTIC VIO- 11 LENCE CASES. 12 The Attorney General, in coordination with the Sec- 13 retary of Health and Human Services, shall— 14 (1) conduct a study on the direct and collateral 15 economic costs and risks of divorce from an abusive 16 partner to a victim of domestic violence, including 17 the payment of alimony, legal fees, spousal support, 18 or the division of property, disaggregated on the 19 basis of whether the individual has higher earnings 20 than their partner; and 21 (2) include recommendations based on the 22 study conducted under paragraph (1). 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 May 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1991.IH H1991 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS