.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation that will provide critical resources to programs that support victims of crime. The bill passed 43-20, with 20 of 24 House Republicans voting against the bill, which previously passed the Senate 34-1.
“I’m proud that Colorado is putting additional resources toward helping survivors of crime,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will provide critical support to survivors of crime, including survivors of domestic violence, to help people get back on their feet. This funding fills a gap in the resources available for these programs that was created when the Trump administration cut off their funding.”
“This legislation directs $48 million of pandemic economic relief and state funds to support survivors of crime to improve access to the services they need,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “The pandemic has placed enormous strain on our society, and we’ve seen an increase in domestic violence and other crimes as a result. This legislation continues essential crime victim services and programs to help survivors of crime access the assistance they need.”
SB22-183, sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Weissman, 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 $42 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.