Skip to main content
H 8156Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure - Domestic Violence Prevention Act

This bill creates a state fund, supported by legal settlements and an initial investment, to finance nonprofits helping domestic violence survivors.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation establishes the "Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Services Fund." Recognizing that federal funding for victim services has decreased, the state is creating this fund to support nonprofit organizations that provide advocacy and direct services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The fund will launch with a one-time $1 million investment from the state's general fund. Moving forward, it will be sustained by 10% of the proceeds from multi-state legal settlements secured by the Attorney General, along with potential private donations. A designated committee will oversee the distribution of these funds.

For younger readers

This new rule sets up a special piggy bank for the state to help people who have been hurt by others in their families or relationships. Sometimes, helpers need money to make sure these people are safe and have someone to talk to. The state will put some money in this piggy bank to start. Later, if the state wins money in big arguments with large companies, some of that money will go into this piggy bank too. A group of experts will decide the best way to spend the money to help keep people safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Victims of domestic violence and sexual assaultNonprofit service providersRhode Island Attorney GeneralDepartment of Public SafetyTaxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
$0.64
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Strengthens the social safety net by providing a dedicated state-level funding stream for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, protecting these critical services from federal funding cuts.
  • Utilizes funds derived from multi-state settlements—often resulting from corporate misconduct—to directly benefit the community and vulnerable populations, effectively redistributing penalties for public good.
  • Ensures that experts and advocacy groups, such as the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, have a direct role in governance and decision-making regarding how funds are distributed.
  • Relies partly on settlement proceeds which can be unpredictable and irregular, rather than establishing a guaranteed, recurring tax revenue stream to ensure long-term stability for victim services.
  • Places the administration of the fund under the Department of Public Safety and includes law enforcement officials on the advisory committee, which some progressives may view as an over-reliance on the carceral state for social services.
  • The cap of $5 million per settlement limits the amount of corporate penalty money that can be directed toward survivors, potentially diverting excess settlement funds back to general government coffers rather than to those harmed.
For Conservatives
  • Directs funding to evidence-based nonprofit organizations rather than expanding the size of the government workforce or creating new permanent state employee positions to deliver services.
  • Implements a cap on the amount of settlement funds (10% up to $5 million) that can be diverted, ensuring that the majority of large legal settlements still go to the general fund or other state priorities.
  • Focuses resources on victims of violent crime (domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking), aligning with a law-and-order priority of supporting those harmed by criminal activity.
  • Requires an immediate one-time expenditure of $1,000,000 from the general fund, increasing government spending at a time when fiscal restraint may be preferred.
  • Permanently diverts a portion of future legal settlement revenues away from the general treasury, where they could otherwise be used for tax relief or paying down state debt.
  • Establishes a new government committee and administrative burden within the Department of Public Safety, expanding the scope of government oversight and bureaucracy.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 50 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 12-29 of the General Laws entitled "Domestic Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 12-29-13. Domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund.

(a) The general assembly finds and declares that domestic and sexual violence is a serious public health problem in Rhode Island, resulting in numerous severe injuries and deaths annually and significant first responder services, health and court costs, and that evidence-based domestic violence and sexual assault direct services programs are critical lifesaving tools to mitigate the continuing toll that such violence takes on our communities, cities, and towns. With decreased available federal funding for survivor services, the availability of state funding for such victim services is even more important. It is therefore in the best interest of the state to establish a fund to promote effective programs providing expert direct victim services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Rhode Island.

(b) Domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund.

(1) There is established the domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund, to be administered by the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) administrator for the State of Rhode Island (“DVSASS Fund Administrator”)

(2) The domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund (“fund”) monies shall be used to fund evidence-based direct services nonprofit organizations with the primary purpose of providing services and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and dating violence in the State of Rhode Island.

(3) The fund shall be established with a one-time investment of one million dollars ($1,000,000) from the general fund in its inaugural year. Thereafter, the fund shall be sustained by ten percent (10%) of proceeds from any settlement entered by the attorney general resulting from a multi-state initiative, not to exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000) per settlement. The fund shall be eligible and empowered to receive and deposit any monies from philanthropic donations.

(4) The DVSASS administrator shall convene a domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund statewide advisory committee for the fund comprised of those with knowledge, experience, training, and/or expertise in the field of prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and dating violence. The committee members shall include, but shall not limited to, the executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, or designee; the executive director of Sojourner House, or designee; the executive director of Day One, or designee; the director of the department of health, or designee; the director of the department of human services, or designee; the attorney general, or designee; and the general treasurer, or designee; and the director of the department of public safety grant administration office, or designee.

(c) The domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services fund committee shall be responsible for stewarding the fund and decisions related to the funding of nonprofit organizations providing services and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and dating violence in the State of Rhode Island, and shall:

(1) Develop a plan and budget for distribution of funds;

(2) Develop criteria for awarding and distributing funds to eligible nonprofit organizations whose primary missions include reducing domestic violence and/or sexual assault in Rhode Island;

(3) Issue requests for proposals to providers, organizations, firms, or entities that will provide services to the committee; and

(4) Review proposals for the funds and make final determination of grant awards.

(d) The DVSASS administrator shall monitor and report annually on the use and impact of the fund, including a detailed accounting of expenditures and funded programs. The annual report shall be posted on the department of public safety website and transmitted to the general assembly no later than February 28, 2027 and each year thereafter; and

(e) The DVSASS administrator shall promote the general development and sustaining of trauma-informed services and specialized advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and dating violence in Rhode Island.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.