Lawmakers hear requests to shore up shelters and child-advocacy funding as ARPA support wanes

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council briefed the committee on proposed increases for domestic violence shelters and child advocacy centers and described a competitive, partner-involved funding process.

"We review things like need statements where we do review the geographic area, the number of family violence cases within that area," Christy Carter, victim assistance division director, told senators as she described the criteria used to allocate state funds. CJCC staff said some state funds historically were distributed more evenly while additional competitive grants require evidence of need, caseload and program innovation.

Committee members pressed CJCC on the role of federal funding. Staff acknowledged shelters historically rely heavily on federal sources and cautioned that pending federal budget uncertainty could threaten operations. One CJCC witness said analysis showed an average shelter in 2021 required roughly $896,000 to meet minimum operating standards, and that many providers rely on a mix of federal and state grants.

The council also discussed shifting certain contract-administered funds into the agency's budget lines and increasing funding for certified child advocacy centers so state-certified centers receive equal funding. Senators asked for more data on how funds are distributed among 47 shelters and how the state would cover gaps if federal funds decline.

No formal appropriations were decided in the hearing; committee members asked CJCC for further breakdowns and promised additional conversations about caseload and staffing pressures after session.