JFAC provides $3 million for child advocacy centers as VOCA funding wanes

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a one-time $3,000,000 General Fund appropriation to the domestic violence council for child advocacy centers that serve underage victims of crime and family violence.

Alex Williamson summarized the proposal, which responds to reduced federal VOCA funding that previously supported many child advocacy centers. Representative Furness moved the appropriation and Senator Cook seconded. Senator Cook described the centersrole: they provide forensic interviews, counseling and legal assistance in child-friendly settings and frequently improve prosecutorial outcomes. He told the committee that, in his review, conviction rates and sentence lengths improved in jurisdictions that use child advocacy centers; those remarks were presented as program observations rather than committee findings.

The committee recorded a combined vote of 18 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent/excused and adopted the one-time $3,000,000 appropriation with a due-pass recommendation. The analyst said the appropriation restores funds toward levels seen in recent years and that the federal and other grant funding streams that previously supported these centers have declined.

Members who work directly with local centers described the centersoperations and urged continued resource support to preserve services for children and the prosecutorial advantages centers can provide. The committee attached its usual conditions, limitations and restrictions language to the appropriation.