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2023 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1400 (Floor Request)

Floor Action: Passed By

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Chief Patron: Scott D
Safer Communities Program

Item 408 #1h

Item 408 #1h

First Year - FY2023 Second Year - FY2024
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Department of Criminal Justice Services FY2023 $0 FY2024 $10,000,000 GF
FY2023 0.00 FY2024 3.00 FTE

Language
Page 496, line 45, strike "$213,613,367" and insert "$223,613,367".

Page 502, line 12, after "programs." strike the remainder of the line.

Page 502. strike lines 13 through16.

Page 502, after line 16, insert:

"4. a. Out of the amounts appropriated for this item, $10,000,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Safer Communities Program to support holistic, comnmunity-based strategies that address the root causes and conditions of community violence. Such strategies include: (i) afterschool programs and mentorships; (ii) connections to education and economic opportunities; (iii) case management for trauma-informed mental health care; (iv) credible messengers and violence interrupters; and (v) strategies to build trust between law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. At least $9,500,000 shall be provided to the City of Norfolk, the City of Portsmouth, and the City of Richmond, with a minimum award of $2,500,000 per locality and the remainder allocated based on population. Recipient localities shall establish a new position dedicated to planning, implementation, and coordination of community violence reduction strategies, including utilizing existing violence reduction grants and pursuing additional grant opportunities. The position shall facilitate data collection and performance assessment efforts guided by the Office of Safer Communities.

b. There is hereby established the Office of Safer Communities ("the Office") in the Department. The Office shall manage the Safer Communities Program and serve as a resource for research and best practices for community-based violence intervention, including: (i) providing consultation to the Board of Criminal Justice Services as it administers the Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Fund and the Operation Ceasefire Grant Fund; (ii) conducting outreach to current and potential recipients of violence intervention and prevention grants; and (iii) performing assessments and evaluations of existing grant awards. Out of the amounts in subsection N.4.a of this item, $500,000 is provided to support the Office, to include positions and support services for research, assessment, and outreach. Administrative funding and positions provided under subsections M. and N. of this item shall transfer to the Office. The Office shall provide quarterly updates and a publicly posted annual report that evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of each grant recipient's program to the Virginia Crime Commission, to include the results of  the Office's research on best practices. The Commission shall provide oversight of and guidance to the Office."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $10.0 million from the general fund the second year to establish the Safer Communities Program and the Office of Safer Communities at the Department of Criminal Justices Services. This amendment adds three positions for the Office of Safer Communities, bringing the total number of positions allotted for firearm violence prevention and intervention to seven. At least $9.5 million shall be provided directly to the City of Norfolk, the City of Portsmouth, and the City of Richmond, which had the highest incidence of gun-related murders in 2021 based on Virginia crime data. Recipient localities shall establish a new, dedicated position to support holistic, community-based strategies that address the root causes and conditions of community violence, including: afterschool programs and mentorships; connections to education and economic opportunities; case management for trauma-informed mental health care; credible messengers and violence interrupters; and strategies to build trust between law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. The Office of Safer Communities shall manage the Safer Communities program, provide consultation for administration of existing violence reduction grant programs, and serve as a resource to localities for research, best practices and evaluation. The Office shall regularly report to the Virginia Crime Commission, who will provide oversight and guidance of the Office.)