The Renewed Hope Act of 2024 expands the Department of Homeland Security's capacity to combat child sexual exploitation by requiring the agency to hire and train at least 200 new forensics analysts and child exploitation investigators across its Victim Identification Laboratory and regional offices. The bill also authorizes DHS to hire temporary experts and consultants to conduct image and audio forensic analysis to help identify and rescue child victims, paying them at rates up to the federal grade GS-15 level. Additionally, the legislation establishes a Victim Identification Training Program within DHS's Cyber Crimes Center to provide annual training to DHS personnel and law enforcement from federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign agencies on advanced victim identification technologies and techniques. The bill requires DHS to create coordination procedures among its agencies to prevent conflicting child exploitation investigations. While the bill does not specify total funding amounts, it directs that training be provided subject to available funds and authorizes the hiring and contracting necessary to implement these efforts.
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