We will soon introduce bipartisan legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s response to child abuse, exploitation, and trauma by creating a dedicated Child Victim Recovery Fund, funded entirely by fees paid by offenders, not taxpayers.

Every day, children across the Commonwealth experience sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, and violence with profound and lasting effects. Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are a cornerstone of the response, providing forensic interviews, medical exams, trauma-informed therapy, victim advocacy, and coordination with law enforcement, prosecutors, child welfare agencies, and medical and mental-health professionals. Despite their essential role, CACs remain chronically underfunded, limiting their ability to meet accreditation standards, expand mental-health services, and manage growing caseloads, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Our legislation establishes a statewide investment in these services through a Mandatory Child Victim Recovery Fee assessed when an individual is convicted, pleads guilty or nolo contendere, or enters diversion for an offense involving a child victim. The fee would be $1,000 for a felony, $400 for a misdemeanor, and $250 for diversion. Individuals on probation or parole for covered offenses would also pay a $15 monthly supervision surcharge.

The Child Victim Recovery Fund would be administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and distributed to accredited CACs through a formula-based statewide grant to support forensic services, medical evaluations, trauma-informed mental-health care, family advocacy, and service expansion.

Children should never bear the cost of trauma inflicted upon them. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation ensures offenders, not taxpayers, fund recovery services. We respectfully ask you to join us as a co-sponsor.