BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOLSTER SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME PASSESS COMMITTEE

DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman to direct $41 million in federal funds to services for crime victims. The vote was 8-3.

“The turbulence caused by the pandemic has led to a rise in crime and domestic violence, and as a result, more Coloradans are seeking essential services to help them through some of the toughest challenges in their lives,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This legislation will ensure that essential victim services continue and that Coloradans have access to the support they need. As a survivor of domestic violence, I can’t stress enough how important these services are.”

“This bill puts additional resources into state programs that help survivors of crime access critical support and services,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “With crime rising across the country as a result of the pandemic, we are redoubling our efforts to support survivors of crime with community-based programs and services that respond to their needs.”

SB22-183 would fill a revenue gap in federal funding for crime victims to continue providing lifesaving services for child and adult victims of crime through a one-time investment of pandemic relief funding. The bill is one in a series of bills to invest millions into our state’s economic recovery and deliver urgently-needed relief to Coloradans. The bill invests $35 million in pandemic relief funding to the Colorado crime victim services fund to ensure essential victim services can continue for the next four years. SB22-183 also invests an additional $6 million to services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as recommended by the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.