HF 3398

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/19/2024 04:40pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; increasing funding for grants for direct services and
advocacy for victims of certain crimes; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO CRIME VICTIM SURVIVORS;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of public safety for the Office of Justice Programs to provide grants for direct services and
advocacy for victims of sexual assault, general crime, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Funding must support the direct needs of organizations serving victims of crime by providing:
direct client assistance to crime victims; competitive wages for direct service staff; hotel
stays and other housing-related supports and services; culturally responsive programming;
prevention programming, including domestic abuse transformation and restorative justice
programming; and for other needs of organizations and crime victim survivors. Services
funded must include services for victims of crime in underserved communities most impacted
by violence and reflect the ethnic, racial, economic, cultural, and geographic diversity of
the state. The office shall prioritize culturally specific programs, or organizations led and
staffed by persons of color that primarily serve communities of color, when allocating funds.
This appropriation is in addition to any amount previously appropriated for this purpose.
new text end