Contents
(b)
(1)
(A)The Assistant Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, may make block grants to 4 eligible entities located in different regions of the United States to combat sex trafficking of minors.
(B)Not fewer than 1 of the block grants made under subparagraph (A) shall be awarded to an eligible entity with a State population of less than 5,000,000.
(C)Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (g) to carry out this section, each grant made under this section shall be for an amount not less than $1,500,000 and not greater than $2,000,000.
(D)
(i)A grant made under this section shall be for a period of 1 year.
(ii)
(I)The Assistant Attorney General may renew a grant under this section for up to 3 1-year periods.
(II)In making grants in any fiscal year after the first fiscal year in which grants are made under this section, the Assistant Attorney General shall give priority to an eligible entity that received a grant in the preceding fiscal year and is eligible for renewal under this subparagraph, taking into account any evaluation of the eligible entity conducted under paragraph (4), if available.
(E)In carrying out this section, the Assistant Attorney General shall consult with the Assistant Secretary with respect to—
(i)evaluations of grant recipients under paragraph (4);
(ii)avoiding unintentional duplication of grants; and
(iii)any other areas of shared concern.
(2)
(A)Not less than 67 percent of each grant made under paragraph (1) shall be used by the eligible entity to provide residential care and services (as described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (B)) to minor victims of sex trafficking through qualified nongovernmental organizations.
(B)Grants awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) may be used for—
(i)providing residential care to minor victims of sex trafficking, including temporary or long-term placement as appropriate;
(ii)providing 24-hour emergency social services response for minor victims of sex trafficking;
(iii)providing minor victims of sex trafficking with clothing and other daily necessities needed to keep such victims from returning to living on the street;
(iv)case management services for minor victims of sex trafficking;
(v)mental health counseling for minor victims of sex trafficking, including specialized counseling and substance abuse treatment;
(vi)legal services for minor victims of sex trafficking;
(vii)specialized training for social service providers, public sector personnel, and private sector personnel likely to encounter sex trafficking victims on issues related to the sex trafficking of minors and severe forms of trafficking in persons;
(viii)outreach and education programs to provide information about deterrence and prevention of sex trafficking of minors;
(ix)programs to provide treatment to individuals charged or cited with purchasing or attempting to purchase sex acts in cases where—
(I)a treatment program can be mandated as a condition of a sentence, fine, suspended sentence, or probation, or is an appropriate alternative to criminal prosecution; and
(II)the individual was not charged with purchasing or attempting to purchase sex acts with a minor; and
(x)screening and referral of minor victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.
(3)
(A)Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Assistant Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Assistant Attorney General may reasonably require.
(B)Each application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and
(ii)provide such additional assurances as the Assistant Attorney General determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section.
(4)The Assistant Attorney General shall enter into a contract with an academic or non-profit organization that has experience in issues related to sex trafficking of minors and evaluation of grant programs to conduct an annual evaluation of each grant made under this section to determine the impact and effectiveness of programs funded with the grant.
(5)
(A)The Assistant Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, shall establish a pilot demonstration program, through which community-based organizations in underserved communities, prioritizing rural communities, in the United States may apply for funding to develop, implement, and build replicable treatment models, based on the type of housing unit that the individual being treated lives in, with supportive services and innovative care, treatment, and services.
(B)The program established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall primarily serve adolescents and youth who—
(i)are transitioning out of foster care;
(ii)struggle with substance use disorder;
(iii)are pregnant or parenting; or
(C)Funding provided under subparagraph (A) may be used for—
(i)providing residential care, including temporary or long-term placement as appropriate;
(ii)providing 24-hour emergency social services response;
(iii)providing clothing and other daily necessities needed to keep individuals from returning to living on the street;
(iv)case management services;
(v)mental health counseling, including specialized counseling and substance abuse treatment;
(vi)legal services;
(vii)specialized training for social service providers, public sector personnel, and private sector personnel likely to encounter sex trafficking and labor trafficking victims on issues related to the sex trafficking and labor trafficking of minors; and
(viii)outreach and education programs to provide information about deterrence and prevention of sex trafficking and labor trafficking of minors.
(D)The Assistant Attorney General shall give funding priority to community-based programs that provide crisis stabilization, emergency shelter, and addiction treatment for adolescents and transitional age residential programs that have reputable outcomes.
United States Government work; public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.