_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT Generally revising laws related to victim services funding; creating the administration of a victim services grant program; establishing reporting requirements; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; providing rulemaking authority; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Victim services grant program -- rulemaking. (1) The board of crime control shall administer a grant program to support victim service organizations to provide adequate and sustainable resources to assist victims of crime in the state.

(2)        Local governments, including tribal governments and nonprofit organizations that provide services to victims of crime, are eligible to receive grant funding to provide services to victims of crime, including but not limited to:

(a)        information and referral;

(b)        personal advocacy, such as accompaniment during investigation and court proceedings;

(c)        emotional support or safety services;

(d)        shelter and housing services; and

(e)        criminal and civil justice system assistance.

(3)        It is the intent of the legislature that funds distributed under this section supplement existing victim services programs throughout the state.

(4)        In administering the victim services grant program, the board shall:

(a)        identify priorities for funding services, activities, and criteria for the receipt of grant funds;

(b)        monitor the expenditure of funds to entities receiving funds under this section;

(c)        evaluate the effectiveness of services and activities under this section; and

(d)        adopt rules as needed to implement this section.

(5)        The board shall report, in accordance with 5-11-210, on the status of the program to the law and justice interim committee by September 15 of each even-numbered year.

(6)        (a) Funds available under subsection (1) consist of state appropriations received by the board for the purposes of administering and supporting the victim services grant program or any funds received pursuant to subsection (6)(b).

(b)        The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations from other public or private sources, which must be used within the scope of this section.

(c)        The board may utilize up to 5% of the funds appropriated under subsection (6)(a) for costs incurred to administer the program.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $8 million from the general fund to the board of crime control for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the purposes of providing grant funding to victim services programs as provided in [section 1].

(2)        It is the intent of the legislature that the appropriation provided for in subsection (1) be considered as part of the base budget for the 2027 biennium.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 44, chapter 7, and the provisions of Title 44, chapter 7, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.