2025 -- H 5390

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LC000958

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SAFETY -- VICTIMS OF CRIME TRAUMA INFORMED MOBILIZATION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Dawson, Kazarian, Furtado, Boylan, McEntee,
and Caldwell

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

     The general assembly finds as follows:

     (1) Over 42,000 victims of crime receive lifesaving services from Rhode Island victim

services organizations each year;

     (2) These victim service organizations support some of the most vulnerable populations in

Rhode Island, including minor victims of child abuse, sexual assault survivors, elder abuse victims,

domestic violence victims, and survivors of human trafficking, community violence, and gun

violence;

     (3) Federal funds allocated to Rhode Island for victim services have been sharply reduced

by nearly forty percent (40%) for FY2025, threatening the safety and recovery of crime victims;

     (4) These victim service organizations provide services to crime survivors in crisis,

education programs, and advocacy and prevention efforts to better support victims and

communities affected by many different forms of violence;

     (5) These victim services organizations envision a society where violence is not tolerated

because communities are enlightened and responsive to the needs of victims and their children,

focusing on policy, prevention, survivor activism, communications, and training to achieve this

critical goal;

     (6) These victim service organizations provide a wide array of services for victims of crime,

including a 24/7 statewide Victims’ of Crime Helpline and individual agency hotlines, support

victims at crime scenes and immediately after, referrals for crime victim’s financial compensation,

restraining order advocacy, emergency shelter and housing, support for group or individual

counseling services, child advocacy services, assistance with pending court processes, assistance

with civil legal services, and more;

     (7) The work of victim service organizations helps victims heal, reintegrate into society,

and break the cycle of abuse. This work not only aids in their recovery, but also reduces future state

costs, including emergency room visits, mental health services, shelter expenses, and potential

criminal activity. In addition, investing in victim services fosters healthier, more economically

stable communities by enabling survivors to return to work and reducing dependency on public

assistance programs;

     (8) Rhode Island has thus far invested only minimal state funds to support these life-saving

programs that break the cycle of violence;

     (9) This grant funding will fill the significant gap in current funding, thereby allowing these

essential victim services organizations to fulfill their missions to aid and support victims of violent

crime in the state.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-7.3 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Public Safety"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-7.3-11. Victims of crime trauma informed mobilization grant fund.

     (a) The department of public safety is hereby directed to create the victims of crime trauma

informed mobilization fund or the VICTIM Fund. This fund will support a competitive grant

program aimed at assisting nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that work with victims of crime

(“victim service organizations”).

     (1) VICTIM fund grants will be allocated to Rhode Island nonprofit (501(c)(3))

organizations with annual budgets under fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) that are actively

providing victim service programs.

     (2) These victim service organizations shall be victim advocacy and/or direct service

organizations. Municipalities and state agencies shall not receive these grant funds.

     (3) Funds from these grants shall supplement and not supplant other funds granted to victim

service organizations.

     (4) Priority consideration shall be given to organizations proposing innovative service

delivery methods, culturally specific programs, or strategies to address underserved populations.

     (b) In order to ensure that victim services organizations receive timely funding to address

immediate needs and maintain uninterrupted support for victims, VICTIM fund grants shall be

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allocated to victim service organizations by January of the fiscal year in which they were

appropriated and not carried over into a future fiscal year.

     (c) For each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2026, the general assembly shall make an

appropriation by separate line item in the budget of at least thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) to

fund the VICTIM Fund.

     (1) The thirty million-dollar ($30,000,000) allocation shall only be used for grants to non-

profit organizations as described in this section. The appropriation to the department of public

safety shall be adjusted as necessary to meet the needs of the program on an on-going basis, without

disruption.

     (2) The department of public safety shall provide the general assembly with an annual

report in December of each year, detailing how and to whom the grant funds were allocated and

any outcomes associated with the funding.

     (d) In addition to funding grants to victim service organizations as outlined in this section,

the general assembly shall include a separate line-item appropriation in the budget each fiscal year

to cover the cost of one or more full-time equivalent positions at the department of public safety to

assist in the administration and implementation of the VICTIM Fund grant program.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SAFETY -- VICTIMS OF CRIME TRAUMA INFORMED MOBILIZATION ACT

***

     This act would establish a VICTIM Fund grant program to support nonprofit organizations

providing victim services in Rhode Island. The act would allocate at least thirty million dollars

($30,000,000) annually for this program, along with funding for a full-time equivalent position

within the department of public safety to manage and oversee the grant program.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

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