BILL NUMBER: AJR 31	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Roger Hernández

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   Relative to the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 31, as introduced, Roger Hernández. Family Violence Prevention
and Services Act.
   This measure would call upon the Congress of the United States to
reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Native women experience domestic violence and sexual
assault at epidemic rates. American Indians and Alaska Natives are
2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes, and at least two
times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes,
compared to all other races; and
   WHEREAS, Thirty-four percent of American Indian and Alaska Native
women will be raped in their lifetimes and 39 percent of American
Indian and Alaska Native women will be subjected to violence by an
intimate partner in their lifetime; and
   WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act continues
to be the federal government's only funding source dedicated to
supporting lifesaving services provided by domestic violence programs
and shelters; and
   WHEREAS, While some Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
funding stream set-asides are for tribes, most are allocated to state
governments, some federal territories, and state and federal
territorial domestic violence coalitions. The Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act excludes tribal domestic violence
coalitions entirely; and
   WHEREAS, It is important for tribal coalitions to have equal
access to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act fund stream
set-asides. Tribal coalitions across the country are grassroot
initiatives and they understand the inner circles of providing
services to victims in their tribal communities. The purpose of
tribal coalitions is to enhance the capacity of survivors, advocates,
Indian women's organizations, and victim services providers to form
nonprofit, nongovernmental tribal domestic violence and sexual
assault coalitions to advance the goal of ending violence against
American Indian and Alaskan Native women; and
   WHEREAS, Increasing Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
support to Native American tribes and allowing tribal coalitions
access to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funds will help
to focus on public awareness and prevention of family violence,
services for domestic violence victims and their children, and
training and resources for tribally based programs and agencies that
address these issues; and
   WHEREAS, The overarching goal of tribal coalitions is to increase
dedication to improving systemic and community responses to victims
and to raise awareness, educate, and provide technical assistance,
training, and supportive services for victims of sexual assault,
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking,
including cultural and unique barriers facing Native American women;
and
   WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act's
reauthorization will allow communities across the country to continue
to provide critically needed direct services to victims of domestic
violence and their children. The reauthorization will also improve
the delivery and access of services to meet a broad range of diverse
needs for tribes; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature calls upon the Congress of
the United States to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each
Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the
United States.