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[DOCID: f:s570is.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 570

     To establish a permanent Violence Against Women Office at the 
                         Department of Justice.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2001

   Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Levin, Mr. Specter, Mrs. 
  Carnahan, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Miller, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Carper) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish a permanent Violence Against Women Office at the 
                         Department of Justice.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Against Women Office Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Justice 
a Violence Against Women Office (in this Act referred to as the 
``Office'') under the general authority of the Attorney General.
    (b) Separate Office.--The Office--
            (1) shall not be part of any division or component of the 
        Department of Justice; and
            (2) shall be a separate office headed by a Director who 
        shall report to the Attorney General through the Associate 
        Attorney General of the United States, and who shall also serve 
        as Counsel to the Attorney General.

SEC. 3. JURISDICTION.

    The Office--
            (1) shall have jurisdiction over all matters related to 
        administration, enforcement, coordination, and implementation 
        of all responsibilities of the Attorney General or the 
        Department of Justice related to violence against women, 
        including formula and discretionary grant programs authorized 
        under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (title IV of 
        Public Law 103-322) and the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 
        (Division B of Public Law 106-386); and
            (2) shall be solely responsible for coordination with other 
        offices or agencies of administration, enforcement, and 
        implementation of the programs, grants, and activities 
        authorized or undertaken under the Violence Against Women Act 
        of 1994 (title IV of Public Law 103-322) and the Violence 
        Against Women Act of 2000 (Division B of Public Law 106-386).

SEC. 4. DIRECTOR OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE.

    (a) Appointment.--The President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, shall appoint a Director for the Violence Against Women 
Office (in this Act referred to as the ``Director'') to be responsible 
for the administration, coordination, and implementation of the 
programs and activities of the office.
    (b) Other Employment.--The Director shall not--
            (1) engage in any employment other than that of serving as 
        Director; or
            (2) hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any 
        organization, agency, or institution with which the Office 
        makes any contract or other agreement under the Violence 
        Against Women Act of 1994 (title IV of Public Law 103-322) or 
        the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (Division B of Public 
        Law 106-386).
    (c) Vacancy.--In the case of a vacancy, the President may designate 
an officer or employee who shall act as Director during the vacancy.
    (d) Compensation.--The Director shall be compensated at a rate of 
pay not to exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 5. REGULATORY AUTHORIZATION.

    The Director may, after appropriate consultation with 
representatives of States and units of local government, establish such 
rules, regulations, and procedures as are necessary to the exercise of 
the functions of the Office, and are consistent with the stated 
purposes of this Act and those of the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994 (title IV of Public Law 103-322) and the Violence Against Women 
Act of 2000 (Division B of Public Law 106-386).

SEC. 6. OFFICE STAFF.

    The Attorney General shall ensure that there is adequate staff to 
support the Director in carrying out the responsibilities of the 
Director under this Act.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.
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