SF2299

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to enhance support for children's advocacy centers by including them as a recognized victim assistance program entitled to receive a portion of specific fines imposed by the court for certain offenses.

Main Provisions

• Allocation of Fines: When a person is convicted of specific offenses, the court must impose a minimum fine, which is 30% of the maximum fine allowed by law, but not exceeding the maximum fine.
• Distribution of Fines:
  • 70% of the collected fines will be directed to a local victim assistance program in the county where the crime took place, to offer services locally.
  • The remaining 30% of the fine revenue will be forwarded to the commissioner of management and budget for the general fund.
• Program Designation: If multiple victim assistance programs exist in a county, the court will decide which program receives the funds. This decision will be based on the crime's nature, the victim types served, and the program's financial needs.
• Children's Advocacy Centers: These centers are explicitly listed among the programs eligible to receive the fine proceeds, identifying them as a crucial service for crime victims.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill amends existing statutes to formally include children's advocacy centers as recognized entities alongside other traditional victim assistance programs, such as battered women's shelters and sexual assault programs.
• Explicitly identifies how fines should be split, emphasizing support of local victim services, with a fallback of directing all fines to the general fund if no local programs are available.

Relevant Terms

children's advocacy centers, victim assistance program, fines distribution, crime victim services, local victim support, court-imposed fines, general fund, crime victim crisis centers, battered women shelters, sexual assault programs.