§ 1-40-118 — Distribution of monies to crime victim service and victim assistance providers

(a) In addition to any other powers specified in this act
the division shall oversee the distribution of federal and state
funds under its control, to eligible crime victim service
providers, including funds received under the federal Victims of
Crime Act of 1984.
(b) For purposes of this section "crime victim service
provider" means any program operated by a public agency or
nonprofit organization or any combination thereof which provides
comprehensive services to victims of crime, including but not
limited to:
(i) Crisis intervention services;
(ii) Informing victims and witnesses of the case
status and progress;
(iii) Assistance in participating in criminal justice
proceedings;
(iv) Performing advocate duties for crime victims;
(v) Assisting victims in recovering property damaged
or stolen and in obtaining restitution or compensation for
medical and other expenses incurred as a result of crime;
(vi) Developing community resources to assist victims
of crime;
(vii) Assisting victims of crime in the preparation
and presentation of claims under the Crime Victims Compensation
Act.
(c) In establishing priorities the division shall follow
requirements regarding prioritization that are established by
the funding authority.
(d) The division shall by rule establish a method for
distributing monies to crime victim service providers. The
division's rules and regulations shall reflect the following
factors in determining the distribution formula: population,
needs assessment, regional cost differences and any requirements
promulgated by the granting source.
(i) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 81, § 3.
(ii) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 81, § 3.
(iii) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 81, § 3.
(e) In determining whether a victim service provider is
eligible to receive grants under subsection (d) of this section,
the primary consideration shall be whether the eligibility
requirements of the granting source are met, including the
provider's agreement to submit an annual unduplicated count of
the number of victims it served in accordance with rules and
regulations promulgated by the division.
(i) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 81, § 3.
(ii) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 81, § 3.
(f) Funds distributed under this section shall supplement,
not supplant, existing victim or witness programs throughout the
state.
(g) To the extent the legislature provides funding for
victim assistance providers that serve victims of all crimes,
the division of victim services shall:
(i) Distribute the state funding provided for victim
assistance providers as follows:
(A) No less than two percent (2%) of the total
amount of state funding shall be distributed to each county and
the Wind River Indian Reservation for victim assistance
providers within the county or within the Wind River Indian
Reservation that meet the requirements established by the
division of victim services;
(B) Of the remaining state funding under this
subsection, amounts shall be distributed to the victim
assistance providers within the counties and the Wind River
Indian Reservation on a proportional basis according to each
county's and the reservation's population. For purposes of the
distribution under this subparagraph, the population residing on
the Wind River Indian Reservation shall be determined separate
from the balance of the population of Fremont county;
(C) If funds have been returned to the division
pursuant to unfulfilled contracts under this subsection at the
end of the fiscal year, prior to reversion pursuant to W.S.
9-2-1008, 9-2-1012(e) and 9-4-207(a), a law enforcement agency
that has carried out a clandestine laboratory operation
remediation may apply for compensation under this subsection for
any remediation expenses not otherwise collected pursuant to
W.S. 35-9-158(a). The maximum amount payable pursuant to this
subsection to a law enforcement agency that has carried out a
clandestine laboratory operation remediation shall be the amount
set forth in the court approved expense report as provided under
W.S. 35-9-158(a) minus amounts collected from other sources
pursuant to W.S. 35-9-158(a).
(ii) Require victim assistance providers to:
(A) Provide the services specified under
subsection (a) of this section;
(B) Advocate to ensure victims are allowed to
exercise their rights under the victims bill of rights
established in W.S. 1-40-203;
(C) Submit their long-term strategic plans to
the division of victim services for approval.
(iii) Establish minimum program standards and uniform
reporting procedures for victim assistance providers that
receive state funding under this subsection through rules and
regulations adopted in accordance with W.S. 9-1-638(a)(vii).