Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Services Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cal OES and advocates warn of major shortfall in VOCA victim‑services funding; state backfill debated
Summary
Cal OES told the Senate subcommittee the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocation to California has fallen sharply and that, if federal awards remain low, state backfill of roughly $130 million may be needed to maintain current services; advocates urged the Legislature to sustain funding while federal allocations are uncertain.
Cal OES officials, the Legislative Analyst’s Office and victim‑service advocates warned lawmakers that federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding for California has plummeted and that organizations providing counseling, forensic exams, housing and legal help face immediate funding gaps.
Cal OES update and state gap estimate
Eric Swanson, deputy director for finance and logistics at Cal OES, told the committee federal fiscal year allocations for VOCA had fallen from about $396 million (2018) to $87 million for the 2024 federal award. Swanson said his office’s rough estimate to maintain current service levels would be a federal award of approximately $224 million; if federal awards repeat the 2024 low level, Cal OES estimated a state backfill need of roughly $130 million to avoid immediate cuts.
"If we continue with the current levels from last year's award, we would start July 1 with significant program reductions," Cal OES told lawmakers.
Why the fund is volatile
Heather Gonzalez of the Legislative Analyst’s Office explained VOCA funding comes from the federal Crime Victims Fund (non‑tax receipts such as criminal fines and settlements) and is sensitive to year‑to‑year prosecution volumes and settlement patterns. Congress places an annual cap on expenditures; for federal fiscal year 2025 the cap rose compared with prior years but final state allocations had not been released at the time of the hearing.
LAO and Cal OES recommendations
- LAO cautioned that allocations change and suggested the Legislature take time to weigh multi‑year commitments, because program design choices (depth vs. breadth of funding, matching federal awards, allowable uses) matter.
- Cal OES said it has an advisory committee and a plan for prioritized allocations but cautioned that without federal clarity many providers could face 50% cuts beginning July 1 if federal funds remain near 2024 levels.
Advocates’ testimony
Representatives from domestic violence, sexual assault, child‑abuse and family justice programs urged the Legislature to sustain funding at current service levels until a longer‑term revenue solution (AB 2432, referenced in testimony) produces stable funding. Service providers said cuts would force closures of local offices, layoffs of advocates and a reduction in forensic and counseling services for survivors.
Committee reaction and next steps
Committee members pressed Cal OES and the LAO for updated allocation numbers and pressed the Administration on options for short‑term state support. Several senators asked staff to explore the estimated $224 million figure and details about how any state backfill would be targeted. No appropriation or emergency action was taken at the hearing; members signaled urgency given provider timelines and the July 1 program year start for many VOCA subrecipients.
