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CalVCB says federal VOCA grant condition is delaying attorney payments; attorneys ask for swift fixes
Summary
CalVCB told the board a Department of Justice VOCA grant condition disallows grant‑funded attorney payments for certain claimants, prompting staff to seek state general fund carve‑outs; attorneys at the meeting said payments and notices stopped and urged an expedited solution.
At the Nov. 20 California Victim Compensation Board meeting Executive Officer Linda Gledhill told members that a condition in the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) compensation grant disallows attorney payments for representatives of undocumented immigrants, creating a need for CalVCB to ensure attorney fees are paid from state general funds rather than federal VOCA dollars.
"The solution ... will take some time and and will result in a delay in those payments," Gledhill said, explaining that staff are working with the Department of Finance to carve out state funds to cover attorney payments so the grant itself can be maintained.
Why it matters: Board members and public commenters said the delay has immediate consequences for attorneys and potentially for victims who rely on reimbursements and provider payments. Attorney Michael Siegel told the board he had "stopped getting mail from the victim program" about attorney fee payments and that his "income stopped about 3 weeks ago." He asked staff to expedite restoring payment notices and to meet with CalVCB legal staff.
Board response: Chair Ravel and Member Johnson thanked Siegel for raising the issue and asked staff to provide any available data at the next board meeting on systemic impacts. CalVCB staff said they will continue working with Finance to segregate funds for attorney payments and assess whether provider reimbursements are being processed on schedule.
What remains unresolved: Gledhill said the agency is implementing a workaround using general fund dollars but that it is a process that will take time. She and board members emphasized the urgency of minimizing disruption to victims and providers while complying with grant conditions.
Sources and quotes: Executive Officer Linda Gledhill; public commenter Michael Siegel; board members' roll call comments during the Nov. 20 meeting.
