Victims of Crime Act Crime Victims Fund Ideas for Discussion National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators

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Ideas for Discussion Why now? Vision 21. Growth of Crime Victims Fund. Congressional interest. Very preliminary; for discussion only. Numbers are illustrative only.

Overall Goals Provide steady, predictable growth. Draw down Fund balance. Establish equitable allocations among VOCA funded program areas.

Establish minimum annual VOCA cap amounts with a reasonable increase each year. Provides steady growth, stability and predictability. Draws down growing Fund balance. Example: $735 million initial year with annual 2.5 percent increases. $3.9 billion over five years. $8.2 billion over ten years.

Only VOCA–authorized programmatic costs should be funded “under the cap.” Any other costs, such as OJP management and administrative expenses, would be taken from “above the cap.” Would not change grant allocations. Example, using current M&A as base: $300 million over five years. $587 million over ten years.

Total Fund Drawdowns Total spending = “above” and “under” the cap. Assuming initial $735 million cap with 2.5 percent annual increase with current M&A: 5-Year 10-Year Above cap – M&A $0.3 billion $0.6 billion Cap $3.9 billion $8.2 billion Total $4.2 billion $8.8 billion

Deposit deferred and non- prosecution agreement penalties into the Crime Victims Fund. DPA payments now deposited into General Treasury. $3 billion since 2010. May be scoring issue.

Change allocation formula so that each VOCA-authorized program receives a set percentage of annual Fund obligations. Equitable allocation formula. Eliminates zero-sum relationship among VOCA program areas. CJA, Federal set-asides funded first. Rollover from compensation to assistance grants. Each program area funding increases as cap increases.

Assume $735 million cap Program Area Percentage of cap Amount 2009-2012 Average Children’s Justice Act 3 percent $22.0 million $20.0 million Federal Set-asides 7 percent $51.5 million $42.5 million OVC Discretionary 6 percent $44.1 million $30.2 million Crime Victim Compensation 28 percent $205.8 million $184.8 million Victim Assistance 56 percent $411.6 million $395.9 million

Revise allocation of state crime victim compensation grants among the states. May need/want to change grants based on state-funded payouts. Should not exceed designated percentage of cap.

Increase the amount of state crime victim compensation grants available for state administration and training from 5 percent to 10 percent . permit use to assist crime victims with information and referral to appropriate victim assistance services

Increase the amount of state assistance grants available for state administration and training from 5 percent to 10 percent. Similar to other grant programs: Byrne JAG, VAWA STOP. Strategic planning, needs assessment, monitoring/accountability, grants management/reporting systems, training programs.

Provide greater flexibility to fund statewide victim assistance and rights’ compliance programs. Authority to waive financial, volunteer, coordination, compensation assistance and match requirements.

Exempt the Crime Victims Fund from sequestration. Similar to other exempt accounts and trust funds. Money in Fund already collected and does not add to nation’s debt or deficit. Social Security Trust Fund, Health Care Trust Fund, Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, Vaccine Compensation Injury Program Trust Fund, Rail Industry Pension Fund, low income programs, economic recovery programs, Motor Carrier Safety grants.

Where are we now? Have begun discussions with stakeholders looking for feedback, suggestions; not agreement. Congressional staff. OVC. National organizations/coalitions.