Rural Program Statute

42 U.S.C.A. § 13971
Rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child abuse enforcement
assistance
(a) Purposes

The purposes of this section are—

(1) to identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in rural communities, by encouraging
collaboration among—
(A) domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victim service providers;
(B) law enforcement agencies;
(C) prosecutors;
(D) courts;
(E) other criminal justice service providers;
(F) human and community service providers;
(G) educational institutions; and
(H) health care providers;
(2) to establish and expand nonprofit, nongovernmental, State, tribal, territorial, and local

government victim services in rural communities to child, youth, and adult victims; and

(3) to increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities, by—
(A) dealing directly and immediately with domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence,
and stalking occurring in rural communities; and
(B) creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent domestic

violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

(b) Grants authorized
The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women
(referred to in this section as the "Director"), may award grants to States, Indian tribes, local
governments, and nonprofit, public or private entities, including tribal nonprofit organizations, to

carry out programs serving rural areas or rural communities that address domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by—
(1) implementing, expanding, and establishing cooperative efforts and projects among law

enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocacy groups, and other related parties to

investigate and prosecute incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and

stalking;

(2) providing treatment, counseling, advocacy, and other long- and short-term assistance to

adult and minor victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in

rural communities, including assistance in immigration matters; and

(3) working in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies
directed toward such issues.
(c) Use of funds
Funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall be used only for specific programs and
activities expressly described in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Allotments and priorities
(1) Allotment for Indian tribes
(A) In general
Not less than 10 percent of the total amount available under this section for each fiscal year
shall be available for grants under the program authorized by section 3796gg-10 of this title.
(B) Applicability of part
The requirements of this section shall not apply to funds allocated for the program described
in subparagraph (A).
(2) Allotment for sexual assault
(A) In general
Not less than 25 percent of the total amount appropriated in a fiscal year under this section
shall fund services that meaningfully address sexual assault in rural communities, however at
such time as the amounts appropriated reach the amount of $45,000, 000, the percentage
allocated shall rise to 30 percent of the total amount appropriated, at such time as the
amounts appropriated reach the amount of $ 50,000,000, the percentage allocated shall rise to
35 percent of the total amount appropriated, and at such time as the amounts appropriated
reach the amount of $55,000,000, the percentage allocated shall rise to 40 percent of the
amounts appropriated.

(B) Multiple purpose applications
Nothing in this section shall prohibit any applicant from applying for funding to address
sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or dating violence in the same application.
(3) Allotment for technical assistance
Of the amounts appropriated for each fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than 8
percent may be used by the Director for technical assistance costs. Of the amounts
appropriated in this subsection, no less than 25 percent of such amounts shall be available to a
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization or organizations whose focus and expertise is in
addressing sexual assault to provide technical assistance to sexual assault grantees.
(4) Underserved populations
In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to the needs of

underserved populations.

(5) Allocation of funds for rural States
Not less than 75 percent of the total amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out
this section shall be allocated to eligible entities located in rural States.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated $55,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through
2011 to carry out this section.
(2) Additional funding
In addition to funds received through a grant under subsection (b) of this section, a law

enforcement agency may use funds received through a grant under subchapter XII-E of

chapter 46 of this title to accomplish the objectives of this section.