Section 2333. Domestic Violence and Rape Victims Services.--(a) The General Assembly finds that the public health and safety is threatened by increasing incidences of domestic violence and rape. Domestic violence programs and rape crisis programs provide needed support services for victims and assist in prevention through community education. Therefore, the General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest for the Commonwealth to establish a mechanism to provide financial assistance to domestic violence centers and rape crisis centers for the operation of domestic violence and rape crisis programs.
(b) Where any person after the effective date of this section pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is convicted of any crime as herein defined, there shall be imposed, in addition to all other costs, an additional cost in the sum of ten dollars ($10) for the purpose of funding the services as described in this section. Such sum shall be paid over to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the General Fund. Under no condition shall a political subdivision be liable for the payment of the ten dollars ($10) in additional costs.
(c) The Department of Public Welfare shall make grants to domestic violence centers and rape crisis centers for the operation of domestic violence programs and rape crisis programs consistent with this section. In awarding grants, the Department of Public Welfare shall consider the population to be served, the geographical area to be serviced, the scope of the services, the need for services and the amount of funds provided from other sources.
(d) The Department of Public Welfare shall make available at cost to the public copies of applications that have been submitted or approved for funding and reports on any fiscal or programmatic reviews of funded programs.
(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Crime" means an act committed in Pennsylvania which, if committed by a mentally competent, criminally responsible adult, who had no legal exemption or defense, would constitute a crime as defined in and proscribed by Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (relating to crimes and offenses) or enumerated in the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as "The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act." However, no act involving the operation of a motor vehicle which results in injury shall constitute a crime for the purpose of this section unless such injury was intentionally inflicted through the use of a motor vehicle.
"Domestic violence" means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members:
(1) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury.
(2) Placing, by physical menace, another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.
"Domestic violence center" means an organization, or the coordinating body of an organization, which has as its primary purpose the operation of domestic violence programs.
"Domestic violence program" means a program which has as its primary purpose the provision of direct services to victims of domestic violence and their children, including, but not limited to, victim advocacy, counseling, shelter, information and referral, victim-witness, accompaniment, community education and prevention.
"Rape crisis center" means an organization, or the coordinating body of an organization, which has as its primary purpose the operation of rape crisis programs.
"Rape crisis program" means a program which has as its primary purpose the provision of direct services to victims of sexual assault, including, but not limited to, crisis intervention, counseling, victim advocacy, information and referral, victim-witness and assistance, accompaniment through the medical, police and judicial systems as well as providing education and prevention programs on rape and sexual assaults.
"Sexual assault" means any conduct which is a crime under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 31 (relating to sexual offenses).
(2333 added Mar. 30, 1988, P.L.329, No.44)
Compiler's Note: The short title of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, referred to in this section, was amended by the act of December 28, 2015 (P.L.500, No.92). The amended short title is now the Human Services Code.
Compiler's Note: The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.
Compiler's Note: Section 4 of Act 44 of 1988, which added section 2333, provided that it is the intent of the General Assembly that section 2333 is a reenactment of Article XII of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code. Section 5 of Act 44 of 188 provided that section 2333 shall be retroactive to June 18, 1987.