The proposed legislation establishes the Victims of Crime Trauma Informed Mobilization Fund, known as the VICTIM Fund, aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that provide victim services. The fund will facilitate a competitive grant program specifically for 501(c)(3) organizations with annual budgets under $50 million, focusing on victim advocacy and direct services. Municipalities and state agencies are ineligible for these grants, which are intended to supplement existing funding rather than replace it. Priority will be given to organizations that propose innovative service delivery methods, culturally specific programs, or strategies to address underserved populations.

To ensure timely support for victim services, the bill mandates that grants be allocated to victim service organizations by January of the fiscal year in which they are appropriated, with a minimum annual appropriation of $30 million starting in fiscal year 2026. The allocation shall only be used for grants to nonprofit organizations as described in the bill. Additionally, the legislation includes provisions for the Department of Public Safety to provide the General Assembly with an annual report in December detailing how and to whom the grant funds were allocated and any outcomes associated with the funding. It also calls for a separate budget line item to cover the costs of one or more full-time equivalent positions within the Department of Public Safety to assist in the administration and implementation of the VICTIM Fund grant program. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.