S. 2159 — Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act

This section sets forth congressional findings on the prevalence of intimate partner violence—including technological abuse—citing statistics such as 41% of women and 26% of men experiencing sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner; 97% of victim support programs reporting abusers' use of technology to stalk, harass, or control victims; and 1 in 3 women under age 35 reporting online sexual harassment. Among technology-stalked victims, the findings note that 67% received unwanted calls, texts, or voice messages; 50% received unwanted internet messages; 35% had activities monitored via social media; 27% faced posting or threats of personal information online; and 19% were spied on using devices such as cameras or monitoring software.

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including "(1) Director" as the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women; "(2) eligible consortium" as an association between one or more institutions of higher education offering specified advanced technology programs or private/public sector technical partners and one or more domestic violence or sexual violence centers, supported by a letter from the relevant local, state, Tribal, or territorial government; "(3) institution of higher education" as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) (i.e., public or nonprofit institutions providing postsecondary education, training for gainful employment, or programs for nontraditional students, that are accredited or preaccredited); "(4) pilot program" as the program established under section 4(a)(1); and "(5) technological abuse" as defined in section 40002(a)(40) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(40)).

This section directs the Director to establish a pilot program to award grants of up to $2 million each to not more than 15 eligible consortia to combat technological abuse, following consultations with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Education, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and relevant stakeholders such as groups reducing technological abuse and victim service providers. Grant recipients may use funds to purchase technological devices for victims and survivors or to provide other victim services that reduce technological abuse or assist victims and survivors. The pilot program terminates five years after the date of the first grant award and requires the Director to submit to congressional committees (1) an interim report, not later than three years after the first award, reviewing efficacy, implementation challenges and solutions, and a recommendation on making the program permanent; and (2) a final report, not later than one year after termination, reviewing efficacy and identifying best practices and improvements. This section authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry out the pilot program.

This section establishes a grant program under which the Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may award up to $20 million total to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education over five years to develop tools, curricula, and materials for training, educational programs, and technical assistance provided to organizations and individuals supporting victims of technological abuse. Recipients of grants under section 4 are eligible for these grants, and such sums as necessary are authorized to be appropriated.