CJCC describes house-added funding for victim services, child advocacy and shelter operations

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) presented several house-added appropriations and described how the agency will administer and monitor grants to victim-service providers.

CJCC representatives said the House added funding to cover centers that met state minimum standards but were excluded from prior allocations because they were not members of the Child Advocacy Centers of Georgia; CJCC said these centers will receive certification-based funding. For shelter and crisis services, CJCC described a $4.525 million one‑time package that the House shaped with an intent breakdown: approximately $50,000 to each domestic violence shelter (totaling $2,350,000), $5,050,000 to each of the 34 sexual-assault centers (transcript wording—committee accepted the house breakdown as the sponsor presented it) and $25,000 to 19 satellite locations (transcript phrasing) for a total then recited of $4,525,000. CJCC said it will require budget reports and will typically reimburse expenditures quarterly (some high‑need centers received six months of advance funds where timing mandated).

The agency described monitoring and compliance procedures: site visits (teams of two or three) to review policies, accounting records and hotline responsiveness; quarterly reimbursement reconciliations; and follow-up and technical assistance for centers with governance or compliance issues. CJCC said it also performs unannounced visits when complaints arise and will refer serious matters to the OIG.

Committee members asked about audit frequency and hotline monitoring; CJCC confirmed annual site visits for most providers, routine hotline checks and additional follow-up when problems are discovered. Senators pressed for clarity about how LVAP (county-level victim assistance funds) distributions occur and whether the long-stalled State Victim Service Commission should be activated to improve oversight; CJCC said that commission was never formed and a Department of Audits performance review recommended activation.

Senators requested clear program details and documentation to support the House’s intent language so the subcommittee can finalize budget reconciliations with confidence in oversight and compliance.