(A) Appropriations may be made by the general assembly to the office of the attorney general for the purpose of providing state financial assistance to victim assistance programs that operate in the state. All amounts so appropriated shall be used to provide financial assistance to victim assistance programs in accordance with section 109.91 of the Revised Code and this section. The program for the provision of such financial assistance shall be administered by the crime victims assistance office established pursuant to section 109.91 of the Revised Code.

(B) A victim assistance program may apply to the crime victims assistance office for state financial assistance out of funds appropriated to the office of the attorney general for that purpose by the general assembly. Each application for such financial assistance shall include all of the following information:

(1) Evidence that the program is incorporated in this state as a nonprofit corporation or is a program established by a unit of state or local government;

(2) The proposed budget of the program for the period during which the financial assistance is sought;

(3) A summary of services offered by the program;

(4) An estimate of the number of persons served by the program.

(C) Within thirty days of receipt of an application for financial assistance from a victim assistance program in accordance with division (B) of this section, the crime victims assistance office, based in part on the recommendations of the victim assistance advisory board made pursuant to section 109.91 of the Revised Code, shall notify the program in writing whether it is eligible for financial assistance and, if eligible, estimate the amount that will be made available to the program and the time when the financial assistance will be made available.

(D) Each victim assistance program that receives any financial assistance pursuant to this section shall use the financial assistance only to provide the services identified in its application for such assistance as being services it offered and to cover a reasonable cost of administration of the program. Each victim assistance program that receives any such financial assistance shall make a good faith effort to minimize its costs of administration.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000.