Bill Text: VA HB798 | 2022 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund and Grant Program; established.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-09 - Tabled in Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) [HB798 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-HB798-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 9.1-104.1 as follows:
§9.1-104.1. Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund and Grant Program.
A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the Department. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purpose of providing grants to gun violence survivors who are in need of financial assistance to make accessibility adaptations to their homes to accommodate a disability resulting from a gun violence-related injury. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director.
B. The Department shall adopt guidelines for the administration of a Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Grant Program (the Program). The guidelines shall ensure that: (i) the Program shall provide grants to gun violence survivors who are in need of financial assistance to make accessibility adaptations to their homes to accommodate a disability resulting from a gun violence-related injury; (ii) grants are distributed either directly to gun violence survivors or to an agency or locality for distribution to gun violence survivors; (iii) moneys from the Fund are used solely for the purposes of making accessibility adaptations to homes of gun violence survivors and administering the Program; and (iv) grants are available only to gun violence survivors who meet eligibility criteria established by the Department.
