---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 10462a"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "10462a"
heading: "Grants to State and Tribal courts to implement protection order pilot programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/10462a"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Comprehensive Acts"
  - "Chapter 101 — Justice System Improvement"
  - "Subchapter XX — Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response and Enforcement of Protection Orders"
---

# §10462a. Grants to State and Tribal courts to implement protection order pilot programs

- (a) **Definition of eligible entity—** In this section, the term “eligible entity” means a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or Tribal court that is part of a multidisciplinary partnership that includes, to the extent practicable—
  - (1) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7), Tribal, or local [law enforcement](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-23) agency;
  - (2) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7), Tribal, or local prosecutor’s office;
  - (3) a [victim service provider](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-50) or [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or Tribal [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12) coalition;
  - (4) a provider of [culturally specific services](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-9);
  - (5) a nonprofit program or government agency with demonstrated experience in providing [legal assistance](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-24-A) or legal advice to victims of [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12) and [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35);
  - (6) the bar association of the applicable [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or [Indian Tribe](/usc/34/11103.md?p=18);
  - (7) the [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or Tribal association of court clerks;
  - (8) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7), Tribal, or local association of criminal defense attorneys;
  - (9) not fewer than 2 individuals with expertise in the design and management of court case management systems and systems of integration;
  - (10) not fewer than 2 [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or Tribal court judges with experience in—
    - (A) the field of [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12); and
    - (B) issuing protective orders; and
  - (11) a judge assigned to the criminal docket of the [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) or Tribal court.
- (b) **Grants authorized—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out the activities described in [subsection (c)](#c) of this section.
  - (2) **Number—** The [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) may award not more than 10 grants under [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
  - (3) **Amount—** The amount of a grant awarded under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) may be not more than $1,500,000.
- (c) **Mandatory activities—**
  - (1) **In general—** An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds, in consultation with the partners of the eligible entity described in [subsection (a)](#a), to—
    - (A) develop and implement a program for properly and legally serving [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) through electronic communication methods to—
      - (i) modernize the service process and make the process more effective and efficient;
      - (ii) provide for improved safety of victims; and
      - (iii) make [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) enforceable as quickly as possible;
    - (B) develop best practices relating to the service of [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) through electronic communication methods;
    - (C) ensure that the program developed under [subparagraph (A)](#c-1-A) complies with due process requirements and any other procedures required by law or by a court; and
    - (D) implement any technology necessary to carry out the program developed under [subparagraph (A)](#c-1-A), such as technology to verify and track the receipt of a [protection order](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) by the intended party.
  - (2) **Timeline—** An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall—
    - (A) implement the program required under [paragraph (1)(A)](#c-1-A) not later than 2 years after the date on which the eligible entity receives the grant; and
    - (B) carry out the program required under [paragraph (1)(A)](#c-1-A) for not fewer than 3 years.
- (d) **Diversity of recipients—** The [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) shall award grants under this section to eligible entities in a variety of areas and situations, including, to the extent practicable—
  - (1) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) court that serves a population of not fewer than 1,000,000 individuals;
  - (2) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) court that—
    - (A) serves a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) that is among the 7 [States](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) with the lowest population density in the United States; and
    - (B) has a relatively low rate of successful service with respect to [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29), as determined by the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1);
  - (3) a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) court that—
    - (A) serves a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) that is among the 7 [States](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7) with the highest population density in the United States; and
    - (B) has a relatively low rate of successful service with respect to [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29), as determined by the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1);
  - (4) a court that uses an integrated, statewide case management system;
  - (5) a court that uses a standalone case management system;
  - (6) a Tribal court; and
  - (7) a court that primarily serves a [culturally specific](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-8) and underserved population.
- (e) **Application—**
  - (1) **In general—** An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) an application that includes—
    - (A) a description of the process that the eligible entity uses for service of [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) at the time of submission of the application;
    - (B) to the extent practicable, statistics relating to [protection orders](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-29) during the 3 calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application, including rates of—
      - (i) successful service; and
      - (ii) enforcement;
    - (C) an initial list of the entities serving as the partners of the eligible entity described in [subsection (a)](#a); and
    - (D) any other information the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) may reasonably require.
  - (2) **No other application required—** An eligible entity shall not be required to submit an application under [section 10462 of this title](/usc/34/10462.md) to receive a grant under this section.
- (f) **Report to Attorney General—**
  - (1) **Initial report—** Not later than 2 years after the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall submit to the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) a report that details the plan of the eligible entity for implementation of the program under [subsection (c)](#c).
  - (2) **Subsequent reports—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after the date on which an eligible entity implements a program under [subsection (c)](#c), and not later than 2 years thereafter, the eligible entity shall submit to the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) a report that describes the program, including, with respect to the program—
      - (i) the viability;
      - (ii) the cost;
      - (iii) service statistics;
      - (iv) the challenges;
      - (v) an analysis of the technology used to fulfill the goals of the program;
      - (vi) an analysis of any legal or due process issues resulting from the electronic service method described in [subsection (c)(1)(A)](#c-1-A); and
      - (vii) best practices for implementing such a program in other similarly situated locations.
    - (B) **Contents of final report—** An eligible entity shall include in the second report submitted under [subparagraph (A)](#f-2-A) recommendations for—
      - (i) future nationwide implementation of the program implemented by the eligible entity; and
      - (ii) usage of electronic service, similar to the service used by the eligible entity, for other commonly used court orders, including with respect to viability and cost.
- (g) **No regulations or guidelines required—** Notwithstanding [section 10464 of this title](/usc/34/10464.md), the [Attorney General](/usc/34/10307.md?p=1) shall not be required to publish regulations or guidelines implementing this section.
- (h) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 2103, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title XV, § 1506(2), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 957.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2103 of Pub. L. 90–351 was renumbered section 2104 and is classified to section 10463 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as a note under section 6851 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.