The bill, titled the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Act, establishes the Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention within the Department of State Health Services. This office is tasked with coordinating and expanding violence intervention and prevention activities, reducing interpersonal violence and homicide, and providing leadership and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts in violence reduction. The office will also collaborate with various stakeholders to develop evidence-based policies and strategies, and it will be responsible for awarding grants to support community-based violence intervention and prevention initiatives.

Additionally, the bill outlines the establishment of a grant program aimed at improving public health and safety in communities disproportionately affected by violence. The program will prioritize funding for initiatives addressing issues such as gun violence, family violence, and intimate partner violence. An advisory committee will be formed to assist in reviewing grant applications, ensuring that those impacted by violence and those with relevant experience are included in the decision-making process. The bill mandates that the office develop a public health strategy for violence prevention and requires grant recipients to report on their progress, with an emphasis on evidence-based approaches to reduce violence. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the office required to be established by December 1, 2025.

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