Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 3.djvu/173

This page needs to be proofread.

PUBLIC LAW 103-322—SEPT. 13, 1994 Subtitle B—Safe Homes for Women 108 STAT. 1925 SEC. 40201. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994". Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994. 42 USC 13701 note. CHAPTER 1—NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE SEC. 40211. GRANT FOR A NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "SEC. 316. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE GRANT. "(a) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary may award a grant to a private, nonprofit entity to provide for the operation of a national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to victims of domestic violence. "(b) DURATION.—^A grant under this section may extend over a period of not more than 5 years. "(c) ANNUAL APPROVAL.— The provision of payments under a grant under this section shall be subject to annual approval by the Secretary and subject to the availability of appropriations for each fiscal year to make the payments. "(d) ACTIVITIES. — Funds received by an entity under this section shall be used to establish and operate a national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to victims of domestic violence. In establishing and operating the hotline, a private, nonprofit entity shall— "(1) contract with a carrier for the use of a toll-free telephone line; "(2) employ, train, and supervise personnel to answer incoming calls and provide counseling and referral services to callers on a 24-hour-a-day basis; "(3) assemble and maintain a current database of information relating to services for victims of domestic violence to which callers may be referred throughout the United States, including information on the availability of shelters that serve battered women; and "(4) publicize the hotline to potential users throughout the United States. "(e) APPLICATION. —^A grant may not be made under this section unless an application for such grant has been approved by the Secretary. To be approved by the Secretary under this subsection an application shall— "(1) contain such agreements, assurances, and information, be in such form and be submitted in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe through notice in the Federal Register; "(2) include a complete description of the applicant's plan for the operation of a national domestic violence hotline, including descriptions of— "(A) the training program for hotline personnel; "(B) the hiring criteria for hotline personnel; "(C) the methods for the creation, maintenance and updating of a resource database; 42 USC 10416. Federal Register, publication.