Assigned to FS                                                                                                           FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1306

 

domestic violence shelters; funding

 

Purpose

 

            Changes the methods, limits and notice requirement for the Department of Economic Security (DES) to allocate funds for domestic violence shelters.

 

Background

 

                The DES Domestic Violence Program provides shelter and supportive services through contracted private providers, coordinates a service provider network and provides program development technical assistance.  In FY 1997-1998, DES administered 40 percent of the $10 million total funding specifically designated for domestic violence services.  These monies come from the state general fund, the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Title XX Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), the federal Emergency Shelter Grant and a portion of state marriage and divorce fees.

 

Current statutes prioritize funding for shelters by the diversity of services each shelter provides.  The proposed legislation requires DES to collaborate with stakeholders to determine a methodology to prioritize funding by client needs instead of the capacity of the shelters, and requires DES to allocate funds based on that methodology.  The proposed legislation also eliminates the cap of $100,000 per shelter per year and eliminates the June 15 deadline to notify shelters of the funding allocation.

 

            No fiscal impact is anticipated since it changes the allocation of funds but not total funding.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Eliminates the funding limit of $100,000 per shelter per year.

 

2.      Eliminates the funding preference for shelters that provide a broad range of services and shelters that use volunteers.

 

3.      Requires DES in consultation with a state coalition against domestic violence to develop a method of allocating funds to shelters based on service need, resources, location and population.

 

4.      Requires DES to allocate funds based on the method developed with the coalition.

 

5.      Eliminates the June 15 deadline for DES to notify shelters of how funds will be allocated.

 

6.      Requires DES to consult with a state coalition against domestic violence in preparing the annual report.  Changes the specific contents of the report.

 

7.      Makes technical changes.

 

8.      Contains a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

1.      Eliminates DES discretion for allocating funds by requiring allocation based upon the statutory allocation methodology.

 

Senate Action

 

FS        1/26/00            DPA    5-0-2-0

 

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 31, 2000