AB 1956, authored by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, passed unanimously in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The bill requires California to support funding for essential crime victim services when there are reductions in funding of more than 10%. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) deposits funding into the Crime Victims Fund, which provides federal funding for victim services providers. VOCA is at the center of California’s response to supporting victims of crime, and these cuts will impact programs serving survivors of child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault, among others. The fund will have a shortfall of over $120 million this year, affecting service providers across the state. This reduction could lead to fewer available services and some providers closing their doors entirely.
For more information on the Crime Victim Services Stabilization Act and its supporters, check out the Reyes’ Legislation Requiring California to Support Crime Victim Services Press Release with a Quote from Cast CEO Kay Buck and the Support Letter for AB1956.
