Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed SBX3 13 by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) to restore $16.3 million of state funding to support California domestic violence shelters.
“I want to congratulate the many groups that put victims first and came together to find this creative solution that will keep domestic violence shelters throughout the state open,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.
“I am proud to sign this bipartisan legislation that is good news for every Californian whose life is devastated by violence in the home and will help ensure domestic violence victims have a safe place to go. And, I encourage the legislature to continue looking for a permanent funding solution for this important program so domestic violence shelters aren’t faced with the same uncertainty next year.”
By failing to pass a balanced budget that fell $1 billion short of what legislative leaders had agreed to, the legislature forced the Governor to cut funding for programs he never had proposed cutting, including funding for domestic violence shelters. Since the budget was signed the Governor’s Administration has been working to restore funding to this important program and will continue to work for a permanent funding solution.
SBX3 13 provides for a one-time $16.3 million loan from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund to fund domestic violence shelters statewide for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The loan will be repaid with interest at the rate earned by the Pooled Money Investment Account by June 30, 2013.
Please click here to read the full press release.
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We are so grateful that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed Bill SBX3 13. We hope all politicians continue working on creative proposals that will allow shelters to remain helping victims to break the devastated and harmful domestic violence cycle, which they are involved. Our children deserve a healthy environment to live, so it is our responsibility to give them a good foundation without violence (counseling). Today, DV victims’ voices have been heard. This is the most important thing. Now, they have a chance to breath deeply and see an open door, after having a dark and painful time in their lives. Thanks a lot to Senator Alquist, CALCASA, Cal EMA and everyone for your efforts to stop domestic violence in California.
I am doing a research on shelters and violence. How many shelters are here in the state of California?
Hi Liz – Thanks for leaving a comment. I believe there are 94 shelters in California. You should contact the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence; they have a wealth of information on this topic.
CALCASA was proud to be able to stand alongside other victim advocates as the Governor signed this bill. We also got to support Beth Hassett from WEAVE who did a tremendous job of bringing the issue home to legislators and press in her introduction.