Children's advocacy centers seek remaining $120,000 from one‑time grant pool; bill would lift $300,000 cap

Shelly Smith, executive director of Oregon Child Abuse Solutions, told committees that House Bill 3,195 would remove a per‑center $300,000 cap and allow leftover funds from last year’s one‑time appropriation (Senate Bill 1579) to be distributed to eligible children's advocacy centers (CACs).

Smith said the 2024 Legislature passed Senate Bill 1579, which included $7 million in one‑time non‑competitive funding for the state’s 24 CACs; the allotment was split in two parts, with a portion distributed equally and a second portion awarded by application contingent on National Children’s Alliance accreditation or intent to apply. She told lawmakers “approximately $120,000…remains in the account that’s not allocated.”

Smith explained accreditation is costly and can be challenging for smaller, rural centers because accreditation standards rely on community partners (for example, law enforcement participation in multidisciplinary teams). HB 3,195 would permit the Department of Justice to reallocate remaining funds to centers that meet the statutory criteria by removing the $300,000 cap, and Smith said the coalition will ask for an amendment to change the DOJ distribution deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2025.

Committee members asked whether removing or modifying the accreditation requirement should be considered; Smith said the statewide network supports accreditation but recognizes practical barriers and noted that just six centers applied for the second pot of funding under the existing rules.

The committee held the public hearing; no final action was recorded during the session.