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Committee backs bill to expand and reallocate victim services funding paid by offenders
Summary
House Bill 163 would expand the Exploited Children's Special Fund, add a $2,000 mandatory assessment on certain offenders, and direct proceeds to children's advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters and sexual‑assault centers, with the Governor's Office on Human Trafficking to administer funds.
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Senate Committee on Judiciary C on May 20 voted to report House Bill 163, a bill that would expand and repurpose an existing fund to provide sustained services for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault.
Representative Dickerson, who presented the bill in the committee, said HB 163 would amend the statute governing the Exploited Children's Special Fund to widen the scope of eligible offenses and create a mandatory $2,000 assessment payable by perpetrators of enumerated crimes. The bill directs 25% of the collections to children's advocacy centers, 25% to domestic violence shelters and 50% to sexual‑assault centers. The Governor’s Office on Human Trafficking would administer the fund; current administration of the fund by the Department of Children and Family Services would change under the proposal.
“Creating a sustainable source of funding for victim services paid for by the perpetrator of the enumerated crimes” was a primary stated goal, Representative Dickerson said. The bill lists 23 offenses that would trigger the assessment, including trafficking and related violent crimes.
Witnesses from victim‑service organizations registered in support but did not speak at length. Monica Taylor, director of the Governor’s Office on Human Trafficking, provided a white card and was identified as the intended administrator of the program if the bill passes. Committee members praised the approach as a way to stabilize funding for providers.
Senator Barrow indicated support and said he would co‑author the bill in the Senate. The committee moved and reported the bill favorably without recorded opposition in the hearing record.
Discussion versus formal action: testimony and committee comments constituted discussion; the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The measure will proceed to the Senate calendar for floor consideration and possible amendments.
If enacted, HB 163 would not reduce current court costs for law enforcement or DAs, the sponsor said, and would allocate specified percentages of collected assessments directly to victim service providers. The bill names the Governor’s Office on Human Trafficking as administrator and sets statutory distribution percentages for the fund.
