ORS 147.231 Disbursement of moneys to agencies that provide services to victims of crimes; rules

Subject to the availability of sufficient funds in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account, the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee may make grants from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account to eligible public or private nonprofit agencies that provide services to victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud and deception. The Attorney General may not make grants unless there are sufficient funds in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account to satisfy both the projected compensation claims of victims of violent crimes and the anticipated costs of complying with ORS 147.227 and of providing the funds deemed necessary by the Attorney General to comply with ORS 147.397. The grants authorized by this section are in addition to federal Victims of Crime Act grants, federal Violence Against Women Act grants and any other state or federal grants related to serving victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud or deception, that are administered by the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee.

Funds distributed under this section may be used only for services to victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud and deception and may not be used to replace funds otherwise available for services to victims of crime.

As used in this section, “services” includes, but is not limited to:

Crisis intervention services;

Providing, in an emergency, transportation to court, short-term child care, temporary housing and security measures;

Assistance in participating in criminal justice proceedings;

Preparation, publication and distribution of materials that inform victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud and deception of the services that are available;

Salaries of persons who provide direct services to victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud and deception to the extent that the persons provide the services; and

Counseling for victims of property crimes and crimes involving fraud and deception.

Applicants for grants under subsection (1) of this section shall:

Certify that priority will be given to providing assistance to victims of violent crimes including, but not limited to, victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse; and

Provide any information and assurances that the Department of Justice may require.

The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee may administer the grants authorized by this section concurrently with the administration of the federal Victims of Crime Act grants, federal Violence Against Women Act grants and any other state or federal grants related to serving victims of violent crimes, property crimes and crimes involving fraud or deception.

The department shall adopt rules pursuant to ORS chapter 183 to carry out the provisions of this section.