Bill No.: HB0201                  Drafter:  JHR

 

LSO No.:  05LSO-0482              Effective Date:  7/1/2005

 

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0120

 

Chapter No.:       203

 

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Diercks

 

Catch Title:       Crime victim service providers funding.

 

Subject:  Establishes a funding formula for victim assistance providers.

 

 

Summary/Major Elements:

·         Under current law, crime victim service providers receive funding from the Division of Victim Services within the Attorney General's Office under a statutory formula, using funds provided under the crime victim surcharge imposed on defendants convicted of specified criminal offenses.

 

·         This Bill:

·         Authorizes the Division of Victim Services to distribute funds the legislature may appropriate to victim assistance providers, who may, or may not be, crime victim service providers;

·         Specifies that victim assistance providers in each county and the Wind River Indian Reservation shall each receive at least 2% of the total amount of state funding, with the balance distributed based on population of the counties and the Reservation (The population of the Reservation shall be calculated separately from Fremont County);

·         Requires each victim assistance provider to provide specified services under the victims bill of rights under W.S. 1-40-203 and to provide the Division with the program's long-term strategic plan, to be eligible for the funding under the program;

·         Requires the Division to establish minimum program standards and uniform reporting procedures for providers who receive funding under the program;

·         Appropriates $500,000.00 for the program;

·        Specifies that the crime victim service providers in the district attorney's office in 1^st and 7^th judicial districts (Laramie and Natrona Counties) shall not receive any funds from this program, but may seek funding for crime victim services through the normal state budget process or other appropriate means.