(a) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:
(1) “Domestic violence” means the infliction or threat of physical harm against past or present adult or adolescent intimate partners, and shall include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse against the partner, and is a part of a pattern of assaultive, coercive, and controlling behaviors directed at achieving compliance from or control over, that partner.
(2) “Shelter-based” means an established system of services where victims of domestic violence and their children may be provided safe or confidential emergency housing on a 24-hour basis, including, but not limited to, hotel or motel arrangements, haven, and safe houses.
(3) “Emergency shelter” means a confidential or safe location that provides emergency housing on a 24-hour basis for victims of domestic violence and their children.
(b) The California Emergency Management Agency shall administer a comprehensive shelter-based services grant program to shelters for victims of domestic violence pursuant to this section. This program shall comport with the requirements of Section 11135 of the Government Code.
(c) The California Emergency Management Agency shall administer grants, awarded as the result of a request for application process, to shelters for victims of domestic violence that propose to maintain shelters or services previously granted funding pursuant to this section, to expand existing services or create new services, and to establish new shelters to provide services, in any of the following four areas:
(1) Emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children escaping violent family situations.
(2) Transitional housing programs to help victims of domestic violence and their children find housing and jobs so that they are not forced to choose between returning to a violent relationship or becoming homeless. The programs may offer up to 18 months of housing, case management, job training and placement, counseling, support groups, and classes in parenting and family budgeting.
(3) Legal and other types of advocacy and representation to help victims of domestic violence and their children pursue the appropriate legal options.
(4) Other support services for victims of domestic violence and their children.
(d) The agency shall collaborate closely with the advisory council established pursuant to Section 13823.16 of the Penal Code in the development of funding priorities, the framing of the Request for Proposals, and the solicitation of proposals.
(e) (1) The California Emergency Management Agency shall administer grants, awarded as the result of a request for application process, to entities to conduct demonstration projects to serve victims of domestic violence and their children, including, but not limited to, creative and innovative service approaches, such as community response teams and pilot projects to develop new interventions emphasizing prevention and education, and other support projects identified by the advisory council.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “entity” means a state agency, a local government, a community-based organization, or a nonprofit organization.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that services funded by this program include services for victims of domestic violence in underserved communities, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and ethnic and racial communities. Therefore, the California Emergency Management Agency shall do both of the following:
(1) Fund shelters pursuant to this section that reflect the ethnic, racial, economic, cultural, and geographic diversity of the state.
(2) Target geographic areas and ethnic and racial communities of the state whereby, based on a needs assessment, it is determined that no shelter-based services for victims of domestic violence exist or that additional resources are necessary.
(g) The director may award additional grants to shelter-based agencies when it is determined that there exists a critical need for shelter or shelter-based services.
(h) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to this section, shelters for victims of domestic violence shall do both of the following:
(1) Provide matching funds or in-kind contributions equivalent to not less than 20 percent of the grant they would receive. The matching funds or in-kind contributions may come from other governmental or private sources.
(2) Ensure that appropriate staff and volunteers having client contact meet the definition of “domestic violence counselor” as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code. The minimum training specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code shall be provided to those staff and volunteers who do not meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code.
(i) Notwithstanding subdivision (h), a shelter for victims of domestic violence that received funding pursuant to this section in the previous grant cycle shall be funded upon reapplication, unless its past performance history fails to meet the requirements in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h).
(j) The California Emergency Management Agency may hire the support staff and utilize all resources necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The agency shall not utilize more than 10 percent of any funds appropriated for the purpose of the program established by this section for the administration of this program.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 3rd Ex. Sess., Ch. 29, Sec. 1. (SB 13) Effective October 21, 2009.)