Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Officials warn of deep VOCA shortfall; advocates urge $224 million backfill to sustain services
Summary
Cal OES and stakeholders told the subcommittee federal Victims of Crime Act funding remains volatile; Cal OES estimates $224 million would be needed to maintain current Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) service levels statewide and recommended a one‑time state backfill if federal allocations remain depressed.
California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) officials, the Legislative Analyst's Office and victim services advocates briefed the subcommittee on a sharp decline in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocations and on the state's efforts to stabilize funding for victim service providers.
Cal OES deputy director Eric Swanson said federal fiscal year allocations remain uncertain; the federal VOCA Victim Fund is volatile because it depends on non‑tax revenue from fines and settlements and is subject to annual federal appropriations caps. Swanson told the committee that if California were to maintain current service levels, it would need an estimated $224 million in federal VOCA award dollars, and that if federal FY 2025 awards matched FY 2024, Cal OES estimated a roughly $130 million shortfall that would require state…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
