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A bill to curtail the use of changes in mandatory programs affecting the Crime Victims Fund to inflate spending.
1/29/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill S 285
The Crime Victims Fund is a crucial source of support for victims of crime, providing funding for essential services such as counseling, medical expenses, and legal assistance. However, there have been instances where changes in mandatory programs have been used to inflate spending from the fund, diverting resources away from those who need it most.
Bill 119 s 285 seeks to address this issue by implementing measures to ensure that funds from the Crime Victims Fund are used appropriately and effectively. By preventing the misuse of funds, the bill aims to safeguard the integrity of the fund and ensure that victims of crime receive the support and assistance they deserve. Overall, Bill 119 s 285 is a crucial piece of legislation that aims to protect the interests of crime victims and ensure that funds from the Crime Victims Fund are used responsibly.
Congressional Summary of S 285
Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025
This bill establishes budget points of order in the House of Representatives and the Senate against considering provisions in appropriations legislation that contain changes in mandatory programs (CHIMPs) that would cause the amount available for obligation during the fiscal year from the Crime Victims Fund to be less than the annual average for the three previous fiscal years.
A CHIMP is a provision that (1) would have been estimated as affecting direct spending or receipts if the provision were included in legislation other than an appropriations bill; and (2) results in a net decrease in budget authority in the current year or the budget year, but does not result in a net decrease in outlays over the period of the total of the current year, the budget year, and all fiscal years covered under the most recently adopted budget resolution.
The points of order do not apply if the difference between the amount in the Crime Victims Fund as of September 30 of the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year to which the CHIMP relates and the amount available for obligation under the CHIMP is not more than $2 billion.
