This bill creates a federal grant program to establish and operate a national resource center focused on helping faith communities address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The center would provide training and technical assistance to faith leaders, clergy, victim service providers, law enforcement, courts, and other agencies on how to better support survivors who identify with religious or spiritual traditions. Eligible applicants must be consortiums of at least three organizations, including faith-based groups representing underserved religious communities and culturally specific organizations, with a focus on ensuring victim safety remains the priority over other considerations like family preservation or religious marriage counseling. The bill authorizes two million dollars annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, and requires the Attorney General to develop model state legislation addressing religious divorce denial, where religious authorities refuse to cooperate with divorce proceedings despite civil court orders. Annual reports to Congress will track the program's effectiveness in improving responses to violence survivors within faith communities.
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