Bill Text: VA HB148 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Human trafficking services; adds to responsibilities of DSS certain duties related to prevention.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Left in Health and Human Services [HB148 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB148-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§63.2-1612, 63.2-1614, and 63.2-1615 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§63.2-1612. Responsibilities of Department; domestic violence and human trafficking prevention and services.
It shall be the responsibility of the Department, to the extent funds are appropriated by the General Assembly or otherwise made available:
1. To support, strengthen, evaluate, and monitor community-based domestic violence and human trafficking programs funded by the Department and to act as the administrator for state grant funds and the disbursal of federal funds pursuant to §§63.2-1614 and 63.2-1615;
2. To collaborate with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition in developing and implementing community-based programs to respond to and prevent domestic violence;
3. To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials on domestic violence and human trafficking to the local departments, community provider agencies, and the general public;
4. To support, strengthen, and act as a resource to local departments on issues of domestic violence and human trafficking, particularly as they relate to both adult and child protective services and self-sufficiency;
5. To establish minimum standards of training and provide educational programs to train workers in the fields of child and adult protective services in local departments and community-based domestic violence and human trafficking programs funded by the Department to identify domestic violence and human trafficking and provide effective referrals for appropriate services. The Department shall develop a tiered certification system for programs that provide services to victims of human trafficking. In determining the certification level for such a program, the Department shall consider (i) whether the program is accredited by a nationally recognized credentialing entity; (ii) the program's services, practices, governance, organizational structure, leadership, financial management, and compliance history; and (iii) any other criteria deemed relevant by the Department;
6. To provide training and educational opportunities on effective collaboration for all staff of local departments and community-based domestic violence and human trafficking programs;
7. To work with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition to (a) (i)
develop policies and procedures that guide the work of persons providing
services to victims of domestic violence and their children; (b) (ii)
implement methods to preserve the confidentiality of all domestic violence
services records pursuant to §§63.2-104 and 63.2-104.1 in order to protect the
rights and safety of victims of domestic violence; (c) (iii) develop policies and
implement methods to assure the confidentiality of records pertaining to the
address or location of any shelter or facility assisted under the Family
Violence Prevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. §10401 et seq.; (d) (iv)
collect, prepare, and disseminate statistical data on the occurrence of
domestic violence and the services provided throughout the Commonwealth; (e) (v)
operate the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault 24-hour toll-free
hotline and the Statewide Domestic Violence Database (Vadata); and (f) (vi)
provide a clearinghouse of information and technical assistance on intervention
and prevention of domestic violence;
8. To encourage the use of existing information and referral agencies to provide specialized information on domestic violence and human trafficking;
9. To develop and maintain a statewide list of available community and state resources for the victims of domestic violence or human trafficking;
10. To provide technical assistance on establishing shelters, self-help groups, and other necessary service delivery programs;
11. To provide leadership and coordination within the Department on domestic violence and human trafficking as it relates to child and adult abuse and neglect, benefits programs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, foster care prevention, child support enforcement, child care, and the promotion of healthy family relationships; and
12. To promote collaboration and cooperation with other state agencies, including the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Virginia Employment Commission, for technical assistance, data collection, and service delivery to facilitate the appropriate response to victims of domestic violence or human trafficking.
§63.2-1614. Authority to receive and grant funds.
Subject to regulations of the Board and to the availability of state or federal funds for services to the victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, the Department is authorized to:
1. Receive state and federal funds for services to the victims of domestic violence or human trafficking;
2. Disperse Disburse funds through
matching grants to local,
public or private nonprofit agencies to provide service programs for the
victims of domestic violence or human trafficking;
and
3. Develop and implement grant mechanisms for funding such local services.
§63.2-1615. What functions and services may be funded.
In dispersing disbursing funds through
grants to local agencies to provide service programs for the victims of
domestic violence or human trafficking,
the Department may fund both administrative functions and the delivery of
direct services, including a portion of: the operational costs of offices and
shelters, including staff, rent,
utilities, travel and supplies; twenty-four-hour 24-hour crisis intervention
hotlines; counseling; information and referral
services; self-help groups; transportation; emergency
shelter; and follow-up services.
