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Committee advances bill to fund child-advocacy centers through offender fees
Summary
Representatives Mullins and Rigby introduced HB 2443 to create a Child Victim Recovery Fund financed by fees on convicted child-abuse offenders; counsel outlined fees and administration by PCCD and the bill was reported out of committee (recorded as 25–1).
Representative Mullins, joined by Representative Rigby as a cosponsor, introduced House Bill 2443 to establish a Child Victim Recovery Fund to provide steady funding to Child Advocacy Centers (Penn CACs). He said the centers perform coordinated investigations and provide services to abused children and face funding shortages.
Committee counsel explained the bill requires courts to impose a child victim recovery fee in covered cases in addition to other fines or restitution: $1,000 for felony convictions, $400 for misdemeanors, and $250 for placement in ARD or other diversion programs. Counsel said the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) would administer the funds and distribute them by formula to child advocacy centers, and that the bill takes effect in 180 days with an annual report to the General Assembly.
Members endorsed the goal and raised questions about covered offenses and protecting minor identities; members urged further refinements to ensure the list of covered offenses and privacy protections were appropriate. The committee voted to report HB 2443 and members recorded support; counsel confirmed the bill will be reported as committed.
