§ 12501 — Grant For National Resource Center On Workplace Responses To Assist Victims Of Domestic And Sexual Violence

(a) The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, may award a grant to an eligible nonprofit nongovernmental entity or tribal organization, in order to provide for the establishment and operation of a national resource center on workplace responses to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence and sexual harassment. The resource center shall provide information and assistance to employers, labor organizations, and victim service providers to aid in their efforts to develop and implement responses to such violence. (b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity or organization shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require, including— (1) information that demonstrates that the entity or organization has nationally recognized expertise in the area of domestic or sexual violence; (2) a plan to maximize, to the extent practicable, outreach to employers (including private companies, public entities such as public institutions of higher education and State and local governments, and employers with fewer than 20 employees) and labor organizations described in subsection (a) concerning developing and implementing workplace responses to assist victims of domestic or sexual violence; and (3) a plan for developing materials and training for materials for employers that address the needs of employees in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual harassment impacting the workplace, including the needs of underserved communities, which materials shall include a website with resources for employers with fewer than 20 employees, including live training materials. (1) An entity or organization that receives a grant under this section may use the funds made available through the grant for staff salaries, travel expenses, equipment, printing, and other reasonable expenses necessary to develop, maintain, and disseminate to employers and labor organizations described in subsection (a), information and assistance concerning workplace responses to assist victims of domestic or sexual violence or sexual harassment. (2) Responses referred to in paragraph (1) may include— (A) providing training to promote a better understanding of workplace assistance to victims of domestic or sexual violence or sexual harassment; (B) providing conferences and other educational opportunities; and (C) developing protocols and model workplace policies. (d) The compliance or noncompliance of any employer or labor organization with any protocol or policy developed by an entity or organization under this section shall not serve as a basis for liability in tort, express or implied contract, or by any other means. No protocol or policy developed by an entity or organization under this section shall be referenced or enforced as a workplace safety standard by any Federal, State, or other governmental agency. (e) An eligible nonprofit nongovernmental entity or tribal organization that receives a grant under this section may develop a plan to enhance the capacity of survivors to obtain and maintain employment, including through the implementation of a demonstration pilot program to be known as “Pathways to Opportunity”, which shall— (1) build collaborations between and among victim service providers, workforce development programs, and educational and vocational institutions to provide trauma informed programming to support survivors seeking employment; and (2) be centered around culturally specific organizations or organizations that primarily serve populations traditionally marginalized in the workplace. (f) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. (g) Funds appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended.