Officials warn of deep VOCA shortfall; advocates urge $224 million backfill to sustain services

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 backfill to avoid immediate cuts.

"To maintain the current service levels without any decrease in services Cal OES would need a federal grant award of $224,000,000," Eric Swanson said. He cautioned that those estimates will change once the federal allocation is announced.

Why it matters

VOCA funds pay for a wide range of services including crisis intervention, sexual assault forensic exams, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers and other victim‑support programs statewide. Last year the Legislature provided a one‑time state backfill of approximately $103 million to mitigate a drop in federal awards; advocates and providers warned that, absent additional state action, programs will face deep cuts.

LAO and program context

The LAO explained that VOCA funding comes from a federal Crime Victims Fund fed by fines and settlements and that Congress sets an annual cap that affects how much can be distributed. The LAO noted the fund has been volatile and that federal allocations lag prosecutorial activity. For FY 2025 the federal cap rose to about $1.9 billion (a significant increase from the prior low), but Cal OES has not yet received its allocation.

Advocates' concerns

Stakeholders including the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and dozens of local victim service providers urged the Legislature to sustain funding and to backfill any gap that would otherwise force immediate service cuts. Chris Negrin of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and many local speakers emphasized the human impact: shelters, counseling, forensic exams and youth services rely on VOCA funding.

Committee questions and next steps

Members asked Cal OES about the department's advisory committee prioritization and about how quickly cuts would hit programs if federal awards remained depressed. Cal OES said the advisory committee helps prioritize funds and that officials are monitoring the federal process; the department said it can provide more detailed lists of programs and the consequences of potential shortfalls.

Discussion vs. decision

No appropriation decision was made during the hearing. Officials and advocates urged the Legislature to consider sustaining the one‑time backfill or identifying longer‑term revenue sources to prevent program closures.

Ending

Advocates asked the subcommittee to preserve funding for victim services, and lawmakers signaled they would consider the options as federal allocations become available.

Speakers quoted in this article are listed in the speaker roster below.