(a) The Flexible Assistance for Survivors (FAS) pilot grant program is hereby established, to be administered by the Office of Emergency Services, with the goal of improving safety, healing, and financial stability for survivors, and the loved ones of those violently injured or killed. (b) FAS grants shall be made to qualifying community-based organizations pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of establishing assistance funds to distribute in direct cash assistance to survivors. (c) The office shall establish an advisory committee that includes, without limitation, persons who have been impacted by violence, formerly incarcerated persons, and persons with direct experience in implementing supportive services for marginalized survivors. Racial, gender, and ethnic diversity, and representation of communities and identities described in subdivisions (h) and (i), shall be considered for all appointments. The committee shall consist of six members, as follows: (1) (A) Three representatives from community-based organizations providing direct services and recovery assistance such as housing, job placement, or economic support to vulnerable survivors. (B) Of the three members described by subparagraph (A), one member shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one member shall be appointed by the Senate President pro Tempore. (2) (A) Three community providers or advocates with expertise in community-based violence reduction programs. (B) Of the three members described by subparagraph (A), one member shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one member shall be appointed by the Senate President pro Tempore. (d) Notwithstanding any other law, except as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article VII of the California Constitution, a personâs criminal history shall not disqualify them from appointment to the advisory committee. (e) The advisory committee shall establish rules for implementing this chapter. Community-based organizations shall include all of the following in their application: (1) A description of the organizationâs history serving one or more of the groups described in subdivision (i). (2) A description of how the community or communities the organization serves are impacted by violence and incarceration. (3) The estimated number of survivors the organization or program currently serves. (4) The estimated number of survivors to whom the organization or program anticipates it will distribute grant funds. (5) How the organization plans to distribute cash assistance funds to survivors to meet immediate financial needs quickly. (6) How the organization plans to minimize the burden on survivors to provide documentation or submit paperwork. (f) The advisory committee shall do all of the following: (1) Strive to minimize the paperwork burden on grant applicants and grantees. (2) Provide guidance on developing an application, the program structure, and progress reports. (3) Develop a plan to publicize the grant program in advance of an application deadline, including outreach to underserved areas, communities with disproportionately high rates of gun violence and imprisonment, and smaller organizations. (4) Work with the office to develop tools to support applicants applying for an award under this chapter, including, but not limited to, templates and sample applications, which shall be posted prominently on the officeâs internet website. (5) Prior to an application deadline, work with the office to publicize and host at least two webinars that are open to the public detailing how to apply for a grant under this chapter. (6) Develop reporting metrics for grantees to provide information to the office to aid the office in creating the reports required by Section 8699.02. In developing these metrics, the advisory committee shall strive to minimize the paperwork burden on survivors that apply for as
‹ Prev All California sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.