Funds to Support Survivors.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Amber Baker and 12 co-sponsors

HB 942 directs $10 million General Fund to DPS, routed through NCCASA, to fund victim-advocacy grants to partner organizations serving survivors.

Passed 1st Reading

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Purpose

HB 942 directs new state funding to increase capacity for victim advocacy services by channeling a state grant through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA). The intent is to expand resources available to front‑line victim service providers (including domestic violence organizations, rape crisis centers, and child advocacy centers).

Key provisions

Appropriation: $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety in recurring funds for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Grant flow: The appropriation is a directed grant to the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (a nonprofit corporation).

Use of funds: NCCASA is to allocate the funds to partner organizations — explicitly including domestic violence organizations, rape crisis centers, and child advocacy centers — for purposes of victim advocacy.

Effective date: The act takes effect July 1, 2025 (if enacted as written).

Who is affected

Direct recipients: NCCASA (as the designated grantee) and its network of partner victim‑service organizations that receive subgrants or allocations.

Indirect beneficiaries: Survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes who rely on advocacy, crisis intervention, counseling, legal accompaniment, and related services.

State agencies: The Department of Public Safety will administer the directed grant and coordinate disbursement to NCCASA.

State budget: General Fund appropriation impacts available funding for other priorities.

Fiscal impact

State cost: $10 million (General Fund) in recurring funds identified for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The bill text designates the funds as recurring for that fiscal year; the broader ongoing fiscal commitment beyond FY2025–26 depends on subsequent appropriations.

Administrative: DPS will need to process and direct the grant; NCCASA will manage allocation to subrecipients. No specific administrative costs or reporting requirements are specified in the bill text provided.

Implementation notes and uncertainties

Allocation details (how NCCASA distributes funds, eligibility criteria, and reporting/oversight requirements) are not specified in the bill text; these will be determined by grant terms and implementing guidance between DPS and NCCASA.

The bill does not delineate performance measures, timelines for subgrants, or required use categories (e.g., staffing, training, facilities), leaving flexibility to NCCASA and partner organizations.

Because the appropriation is described as "recurring" for FY2025–26, clarity on whether the General Assembly intends the funding to continue in subsequent fiscal years will require follow‑up appropriations language.

Legislative progress (selected)

Filed: 11/12/2024

Referred to relevant committees (e.g., Appropriations)

Passed 1st Reading; effective date set as July 1, 2025 (per bill text)

If you want, I can draft a short one‑page explainer for providers (how funds may be accessed), or analyze likely allocation scenarios and oversight language the legislature could add to improve transparency and outcomes.

Bill