ASSEMBLY, No. 203

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman WEINBERG and Assemblyman ZISA

SUPPLEMENT to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 1994 (P.L.1994, c.167).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.1994, c.67, the 1995 Fiscal Year appropriations act, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:

GRANTS-IN-AID

66 DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY

10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice

12 Law Enforcement--Grants-In-Aid

09-1020 Criminal Justice..................................$300,000

  Grants:

   Victim-Witness Services....................($300,000 )

The amount appropriated hereinabove for Victim-Witness Services grants shall be awarded to qualified public entities and not-for-profit organizations that provide direct services to victims and witnesses and that are eligible to apply for grants under subsection c. of section 20 of P.L.1991, c.329 (C.52:4B-43.1).

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $300,000 to the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety to allow the Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy to make grants to those public and not-for-profit organizations that provide direct services to victims and witnesses. The services these organizations provide include shelter, food, clothing, information, counseling and support. The organizations that have received grants in previous years have included member organizations of the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women and organizations providing rape care services and programs.

    National media attention to cases of spousal abuse has highlighted the need for these services. At the same time, unexplained shortfalls in funds have jeopardized the availability of counseling and protective services to victims. This bill will ensure the provision of desperately needed resources.

Appropriates $300,000 for grants to organizations providing services to crime victims and witnesses.