Senate Bill 719 would create the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance Act, establishing a new special fund within the Department of Public Safety and a competitive grant program administered by the Governor’s Crime Commission. The program would award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide victim assistance services to North Carolina residents, including help with emotional and physical needs, stabilization after victimization, participation in the criminal justice system, and safety and security. The bill also defines key terms such as “victim” and “victim assistance program,” and sets application, reporting, and oversight requirements for grantees and the Commission.
The bill would finance the new fund through a combination of legislative appropriations, other funds received under state law, and gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources. It also creates two dedicated revenue streams by increasing certain court costs and marriage license fees, with portions of those fees credited to the new fund. The grant program would be subject to annual reporting to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, and the bill includes a mechanism to delay awards if the fund lacks sufficient money.
Impact
S719 would amend Chapter 15B of the General Statutes to add a new article creating the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance Fund and competitive grant program, and it would also revise court-cost and marriage-license-fee statutes to direct new revenue into that fund. Specifically, it increases criminal court costs under G.S. 7A-304 and raises the marriage license fee under G.S. 161-10, with designated amounts earmarked for the fund beginning December 1, 2025. The bill would affect defendants in criminal cases, couples obtaining marriage licenses, the Department of Public Safety, the Governor’s Crime Commission, and victim-service providers that may apply for grants.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally supportive and service-oriented in nature, with a clear policy goal of expanding resources for crime victims and victim-assistance organizations. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate broader legislative sentiment. Based on the text alone, the measure is framed as a public-safety and victim-support initiative with accountability provisions intended to make the funding and grant process transparent.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the funding mechanism: the bill raises criminal court costs and marriage license fees to support the new fund, which could draw concern from criminal defendants, court users, and people seeking marriage licenses. Another possible issue is the size and administration of grants, since the bill caps individual grants and requires detailed reporting, which may be viewed as either prudent oversight or administrative burden depending on the stakeholder. Because no hearing transcript or vote record is available, there is no direct evidence of specific objections or supporters beyond the bill’s sponsors.