JFAC approves $3 million one-time for child advocacy centers amid falling federal VOCA funding

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 14 approved a one-time $3,000,000 General Fund appropriation for child advocacy centers administered through the Domestic Violence Council.

Alex Williamson, the Legislative Services analyst, said federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding and other grant revenues that historically supported child advocacy services have decreased in recent years; the appropriation is intended to supplement that shortfall and restore funding closer to prior-year levels. Representative Furness moved the one-time appropriation; Senator Cook seconded. The motion carried on a roll call of 18 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent/excused.

Senator Cook and others described the operations of child advocacy centers (CACs): they provide forensic interviews, counseling and coordinated services for underage victims of abuse and family violence. Senator Cook cited local results, telling the committee that Bonner County has seen a large increase in successful prosecutions since implementing a CAC and that CAC involvement tends to increase conviction and sentence lengths for defendants in these cases; those statistics were provided by the senator as part of his floor commentary and attributed to local experience.

The appropriation is one-time and intended to make up for recent decreases in grant funding so CACs can continue services such as forensic interviews, counseling and legal aid for child victims.

Ending: The $3 million will pass with a due-pass recommendation to the floors; committee members said they view CACs as a critical service for child victims and public safety and expect continued monitoring of funding sources and outcomes.