text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Hate Crimes Hotline Act of 
  2016''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) Nationwide, the number of hate groups in the United 
          States increased by 14 percent in 2015 according to the 
          Southern Poverty Law Center.
              (2) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, of 
          the hate crimes in 2015, 59.2 percent of the offenses were 
          racially motived, 19.4 percent were motivated by anti-LGBT 
          animus, and 19.7 percent targeted religion.
              (3) In 2015, according to the Federal Bureau of 
          Investigation, 4,482 individuals were victims of crimes against 
          persons, and 57.5 percent of these individuals were victims of 
          assault.
              (4) According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an 
          average of more than 250,000 people a year are victims of hate 
          crimes, but most incidents are not reported.
  
  SEC. 3. NATIONAL HATE CRIME HOTLINE AND HATE CRIME INFORMATION AND 
                ASSISTANCE WEBSITE.
  
      (a) In General.--The Attorney General may award one or more grants 
  to private, nonprofit entities--
              (1) to provide for the establishment and operation of a 
          national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information 
          and assistance to victims of hate crimes (hereafter in this 
          section referred to as the ``national hate crime hotline''); 
          and
              (2) to provide for the establishment and operation of a 
          highly secure Internet website to provide that information and 
          assistance to such victims (hereafter in this section referred 
          to as the ``hate crime information and assistance website'').
      (b) Duration.--A grant under this section may extend over a period 
  of not more than 5 years.
      (c) Annual Approval.--The provision of payments under a grant 
  awarded under this section shall be subject to annual approval by the 
  Attorney General and subject to the availability of appropriations for 
  each fiscal year to make the payments.
      (d) Hotline Activities.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
  section for activities described, in whole or in part, in subsection 
  (a)(1) shall use funds made available through the grant to establish 
  and operate a national hate crime hotline. In establishing and 
  operating the hotline, the entity shall--
              (1) contract with a carrier for the use of a toll-free 
          telephone line;
              (2) employ, train (including technology training), and 
          supervise personnel to answer incoming calls and provide 
          counseling and referral services to callers on a 24-hour-a-day 
          basis;
              (3) assemble and maintain a current database of information 
          relating to services for victims of hate crimes to which 
          callers throughout the United States may be referred;
              (4) publicize the national hate crime hotline to potential 
          users throughout the United States; and
              (5) be prohibited from asking hotline callers about their 
          citizenship status.
      (e) Secure Website Activities.--
              (1) In general.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
          section for activities described, in whole or in part, in 
          subsection (a)(2) shall use funds made available through the 
          grant to provide grants for startup and operational costs 
          associated with establishing and operating a hate crime 
          information and assistance website.
              (2) Availability.--The hate crime information and 
          assistance website shall be available to the entity operating 
          the national hate crime hotline.
              (3) Information.--The hate crime information and assistance 
          website shall provide accurate information that describes the 
          services available to victims of hate crimes, including health 
          care and mental health services, social services, 
          transportation, and other relevant services.
              (4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
          construed to require any shelter or service provider, whether 
          public or private, to be linked to the hate crime information 
          and assistance website or to provide information to the 
          recipient of the grant described in paragraph (1) or to the 
          website.
      (f) Application.--The Attorney General may not award a grant under 
  this section unless the Attorney General approves an application for 
  such grant. To be approved by the Attorney General under this 
  subsection an application shall--
              (1) contain such agreements, assurances, and information, 
          be in such form, and be submitted in such manner, as the 
          Attorney General shall prescribe through notice in the Federal 
          Register;
              (2) in the case of an application for a grant to carry out 
          activities described in subsection (a)(1), include a complete 
          description of the applicant's plan for the operation of a 
          national hate crime hotline, including descriptions of--
                      (A) the training program for hotline personnel, 
                  including technology training to ensure that all 
                  persons affiliated with the hotline are able to 
                  effectively operate any technological systems used by 
                  the hotline;
                      (B) the hiring criteria for hotline personnel;
                      (C) the methods for the creation, maintenance, and 
                  updating of a resource database;
                      (D) a plan for publicizing the availability of the 
                  hotline;
                      (E) a plan for providing service to non-English 
                  speaking callers, including service through hotline 
                  personnel who speak Spanish; and
                      (F) a plan for facilitating access to the hotline 
                  by persons with hearing impairments;
              (3) in the case of an application for a grant to carry out 
          activities described in subsection (a)(2)--
                      (A) include a complete description of the 
                  applicant's plan for the development, operation, 
                  maintenance, and updating of information and resources 
                  of the hate crime information and assistance website;
                      (B) include a certification that the applicant will 
                  implement a high level security system to ensure the 
                  confidentiality of the website, taking into 
                  consideration the safety of hate crime victims; and
                      (C) include an assurance that, after the third year 
                  of the website project, the recipient of the grant will 
                  develop a plan to secure other public or private 
                  funding resources to ensure the continued operation and 
                  maintenance of the website;
              (4) demonstrate that the applicant has recognized expertise 
          in the area of hate crimes and a record of high quality service 
          to victims of hate crimes, including a demonstration of support 
          from advocacy groups;
              (5) demonstrate that the applicant has a commitment to 
          diversity, and to the provision of services to ethnic, racial, 
          religious, and non-English speaking minorities, in addition to 
          older individuals, individuals with disabilities, and 
          individuals of various gender, gender identity, and sexual 
          orientation; and
              (6) contain such other information as the Attorney General 
          may require.
      (g) Hate Crime Defined.--For purposes of this Act, the term ``hate 
  crime'' means a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a 
  victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the 
  object of the crime, because of the actual or perceived race, color, 
  religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, 
  disability, sexual orientation, perceived sexual identification, or 
  perceived gender identity of any person.
      (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
              (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
          carry out this section $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 
          through 2021.
              (2) Website.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to 
          paragraph (1) for a year, not less than 10 percent shall be 
          used for purposes of carrying out subsection (a)(2).
              (3) Availability.--Funds authorized to be appropriated 
          under paragraph (1) may remain available until expended.
  
  SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--The Attorney General may award grants to eligible 
  State and local law enforcement entities for educational and training 
  programs on solving hate crimes (as defined in section 1(g)) and 
  establishing community dialogues with groups whose members are at-risk 
  of being victims of such hate crimes.
      (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
  subsection (a), a State or local law enforcement entity must be in 
  compliance with reporting requirements applicable to such entity 
  pursuant to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act (28 U.S.C. 534 note).
      (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for 
  fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
  
  SEC. 5. LOCAL RESOURCES TO COMBAT HATE CRIMES GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall establish a grant 
  program within the Office for Victims of Crime in the Office of Justice 
  Programs, under which the Attorney General may award grants to local 
  community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based 
  organizations to establish or expand local programs and activities that 
  serve targeted areas and that provide legal, health (including physical 
  and mental health), and other support services to victims of hate 
  crimes (as defined in section 1(g)). Grant funds may be used for 
  activities including hiring counselors and providing training, 
  resources, language support services, and information to such victims.
      (b) Targeted Area Defined.--For purposes of this section, the term 
  ``targeted area'' means an area with a demonstrated lack of resources, 
  as determined by the Attorney General, for victims of hate crimes.
      (c) Funding Restriction.--None of the funds from a grant made under 
  this section may be used--
              (1) by an organization that discriminates against an 
          individual on the basis of religion; or
              (2) for purposes of promoting religious beliefs or views.
      (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for 
  fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
target: National Hate Crimes Hotline Act of 2016 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to: (1) private, nonprofit entities to establish and operate a national, toll-free telephone hotline and an Internet website to assist victims of hate crimes; and (2) state and local law enforcement entities for educational and training programs on solving hate crimes and establishing dialogues with members of at-risk communities. Additionally, the bill directs DOJ to establish a grant program for local organizations to establish or expand programs that provide services to victims of hate crimes. 
feat_title: National Hate Crimes Hotline Act of 2016