§ 21. Sexual Assault Victims Program

(a) The Sexual Assault Victims Program is hereby established.

(b) The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services is authorized to award grants for a sexual assault victims program. Awards shall be made by the Center to a sexual assault victims program established for the purpose of providing emergency services, counseling, and support for victims of sexual assault. The Center shall, insofar as possible, award grants to provide reasonable geographic distribution of funds around the State.

(c) [Repealed.]

(d) In order to receive funds under this section, each participating program shall:

(1) Receive some funding from one or more local, municipal, or county source, public or private. Contributions in kind, whether material, commodities, transportation, volunteer services, or office space, may be evaluated and counted as part of this requirement.

(2) Reapply annually for continued funding as necessary.

(e) Duties and functions of the Center.

(1) The Center shall adopt rules under chapter 25 of this title pursuant to which interested local programs may apply for funding. Any local agency or organization may apply to participate.

(2) The Center shall establish minimum standards for eligibility for State funds awarded through the provisions of this section. (Added 1987, No. 257 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1995, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 57a; 2011, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 51, eff. May 14, 2012; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 72.)