Crime Victims Board

The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget’s (analysis as of March 31, 2009):

• Makes no changes to the state operations appropriations

• Amends the Executive’s Article VII proposal to expand the use of funds in the Criminal Justice Improvement Account by denying the use of the Account for law enforcement purposes.

• Modifies the Executive’s Article VII proposal to regarding submission for reimbursement for medical and counseling expenses by denying the establishment of a one year limit and by denying restitution to be paid by credit card.

According to the Assembly Yellow Book, (analysis as of December 31, 2008):

According to the Senate White Book, (analysis as of December 31, 2008):

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of December 29, 2009):

• The difference between the estimated FTEs for SFY 2008-09 and the adjusted level of 2008-09 FTEs is -5. This should be addressed at statewide labor management.
•  The total appropriation for Personal Service is $6.4 million, a $98,000, or 1.6% increase from SFY 2008-09. However, the Executive Budget Agency Presentation for Crime Victims Board shows a net decrease of $604,000 in the personal service appropriation from the adjusted SFY 2008-09 agency appropriation. This reflects adjustments due to the Special Pay Bill containing negotiated union raises and agency-wide reductions made during the fiscal year.
• An All Funds increase of $1.7 million, (+18.3%) from SFY 2008-09. According to the Agency Presentation, this increase is largely a result of shifting operating expenses from the General Fund to the Criminal Justice Improvement Account (SRO), and the inclusion of associated fringe benefit costs that were not previously reflected in Crime Victims Board’s appropriations.
• The significant Personal Service changes appear to reflect the shift of operating expenses from the Administration General Fund (-$3.7 million or -100%) to the Criminal Justice Improvement Account, SRO (+$3.5 million or +100%). Other personal service changes in the Administration Program: Crime Victims Assistance, SRO (+$106,000 or +10.1%); and Crime Victims Board Restitution, SRO (+$170,000 or +37.9%). These changes reflects adjustments due to the Special Pay Bill containing negotiated union raises and do not reflect real increases.
• The Executive Budget shows that the Crime Victims Board (CVB) employed an estimated 1 employee under consultant contracts in SFY 2008-09 at an estimated cost of $257,000. It is estimated that the CVB will not employee consultant contract employees in SFY 2009-10.
• Article VII legislation (S56/A156 Part A) would expand the use of funds deposited in the Criminal Justice Improvement Account (CJIA) to support the operations of the Crime Victims Board and other local criminal justice programs. Under existing statute, funds in the CJIA are used exclusively to fund crime victims programs. Similar legislation was proposed last year.
• Article VII legislation would also establish a one-year term limit for individuals to submit claims for reimbursement of medical and counseling expenses; limit reimbursements to hospitals and health care providers for the actual cost of conducting a forensic rape examination (current law provides for a flat reimbursement rate of $800, though it often costs less than $800); and allows restitution to be paid by credit card.