(a) There is created a fund within the treasury of the state of Tennessee to be known as the “victims of crime assistance fund.”

(b) Moneys shall be deposited to the fund pursuant to § 67-4-606 and as may be otherwise provided by law and shall be invested pursuant to § 9-4-603. Moneys in the fund shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but shall remain available for appropriation to victims of crime assistance programs as determined by the general assembly.

(c) Funds in the victims of crime assistance fund and available federal funds, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulation, shall be used first to fund the victim-witness coordinator program established in § 8-7-206 and, to the extent that additional funds are available, to support other eligible victims of crime assistance programs. Such eligible victims of crime assistance programs shall include, but not be limited to, programs which provide appropriate counseling and support to victims, including each victim's family and programs which assist in the rehabilitation of victims of crime.

(d) The commissioner of human services shall receive grant applications for funds and shall approve such grants as are desirable to effectuate the purposes of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act of 1986, as contained in this section and §§ 8-7-206, 40-24-107(e) [repealed], and 67-4-606(a)(5), to the full extent of available funding in the victims of crime assistance fund established by this section. To assist in establishing criteria, priorities and the review of grant applications, the commissioner of human services shall establish an advisory committee composed of persons from each grand division who are knowledgeable in establishing and administering victims of crime assistance programs.