Establishes VICTIM Fund grant program to support nonprofit organizations providing victim services in Rhode Island with the state allocating $30,000,000 per year to fund the program and staffing within the department of public safety.
Summary
H5390 would create the Victims of Crime Trauma Informed Mobilization Fund, or “VICTIM Fund,” within the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety. The fund would support a competitive grant program for Rhode Island nonprofit organizations that provide victim advocacy and direct services to crime victims. Eligible organizations would generally need to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with annual budgets under $50 million, and the bill excludes municipalities and state agencies from receiving these grants. The legislation also directs that grant funds supplement, rather than replace, existing funding.
The bill sets out priorities for grantmaking, including innovative service delivery, culturally specific programs, and efforts to reach underserved populations. It requires the department to distribute grants by January of the fiscal year in which they are appropriated, and to report annually to the General Assembly on how the money was spent and what outcomes were achieved. The act would take effect on July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to Chapter 42-7.3 of the General Laws governing the Department of Public Safety and would create a recurring state grant program for victim service nonprofits. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the General Assembly would be required to appropriate at least $30 million annually by separate line item for the VICTIM Fund, plus additional funding for one or more full-time equivalent staff positions at the Department of Public Safety to administer the program. The measure would therefore create an ongoing budget obligation and a new administrative responsibility within state government, while channeling state aid directly to nonprofit victim service providers rather than public agencies.
Sentiment
The bill appears to be strongly supportive of victim services and framed as a response to reduced federal funding and unmet needs among crime survivors. Its findings emphasize the importance of trauma-informed support, crisis response, and long-term recovery services, suggesting broad policy support for expanding state investment in this area. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented opposition or formal vote sentiment in the available materials.
Contention
The main policy issue likely concerns the size and structure of the funding commitment. The bill requires a minimum annual appropriation of $30 million, which is a significant recurring expenditure and may raise budgetary concerns. Another possible point of contention is the restriction that only nonprofit organizations with budgets under $50 million may receive grants, which could exclude larger service providers and public entities. The bill also prioritizes innovative, culturally specific, and underserved-population programs, which may prompt debate over grant criteria and distribution fairness, but no specific objections are recorded in the provided materials.