H.R. 7624

119 HR 7624 IH: Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-02-20
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7624  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   February 20, 2026   Ms. Mace  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Financial Services    A BILL
To prohibit certain sex offenders from entering or using the services of certain domestic violence and homeless shelters, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026  .
2.
Limitation on the use of domestic violence and homeless shelters for sex offenders
(a)
Prohibition on provision of services or shelter to covered sex offenders
(1)
In general
A covered shelter may not provide any service or shelter to a covered sex offender.
(2)
Failure to comply
A covered shelter that fails to comply with the requirement under paragraph (1) shall be ineligible to receive any Federal funds during the following fiscal year.
(b)
Prohibition on use of covered shelters
(1)
In general
Except for the purpose of seeking information on non-covered shelters, a covered sex offender may not enter or use the services of a covered shelter.
(2)
Notification
A covered sex offender who enters a covered shelter shall, immediately upon entering such shelter, notify any individual operating such shelter that such offender is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry.
(3)
Provision of information
Upon receiving a notification from a covered sex offender under paragraph (2), the individual so notified may inform such offender of—
(A)
any non-covered shelter; and
(B)
the prohibition in paragraph (1).
(4)
Penalty
Whoever, in or affecting interstate commerce, being a covered sex offender, knowingly fails to comply with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(5)
Effective date
This subsection shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Covered sex offender
The term  covered sex offender  means a sex offender who is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry under section 113 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 34 U.S.C. 20913 ).
(2)
Covered shelter
The term  covered shelter  means a domestic violence shelter or a homeless shelter that receives Federal funds.
(3)
National Sex Offender Registry
The term  National Sex Offender Registry  means the national database established under section 119 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 34 U.S.C. 20921 ).
(4)
Sex offender
The term  sex offender  has the meaning given such term in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 34 U.S.C. 20911 ).
(5)
Non-covered shelter
The term  non-covered shelter  means a domestic violence shelter or a homeless shelter other than a covered shelter.
(6)
Homeless shelter
The term  homeless shelter  means a facility, all or a part of which is used or designed to be used to provide temporary housing for homeless individuals.
(7)
Homeless
The term  homeless  has the meaning given such term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11302 ).