SB 487 — Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention, Virginia Center; established.

SPECIAL SESSION I INTRODUCEDHOUSE 22103607DSUBSTITUTE I22107374D SENATE BILL NO.

487 OfferedAMENDMENT JanuaryIN 12,THE 2022NATURE NOF PrefiledA JanuarySUBSTITUTE 11,(Proposed 2022by Tthe AHouse BconsistingCommittee ofon sectionsPublic numberedSafety 9.1-194(Patron andPrior 9.1-195,to andSubstitute––Senator toMcClellan) repeal9.1-116.6A ofBILL to amend the Code of17Rof Virginia,Virginia relatingby toadding thein VirginiaChapter Center5 forof FirearmTitle Violence2.2 Interventionan article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-525 and Prevention;2.2-526, relating to group violence intervention;

Virginiaestablishment Firearmof ViolenceOperation InterventionCeasefire andGrant PreventionFund. Fund;

creation.Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

O5, ––––––––––consisting Dof Patrons––McClellan;sections numbered 2.2-525 and 2.2-526, as follows:itle 2.2 an article numbered Article 5.

Delegates:Group Violence Intervention.

Carr§ and2.2-525. Price –––––––––– U Referred to Committee on the Judiciary C –––––––––– 1.

That"Group theviolence Codeintervention" ofdefined. Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 an article numberedE 17, consisting of sections numbered 9.1-194 and 9.1-195, as follows:

DH Articleprosecutorial, 17.and community-based initiatives, substantially similar to Operation Ceasefire asO implemented in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Gang Reduction Programs implemented in Richmond and Los Angeles, California.

VirginiaThese Centerprograms forare Firearmdocumented Violenceby Interventionthe Department of Justice and Prevention.areU carried out by a partnership between members of law enforcement, members of the community, and social services providers and that are designed to (i) reduce violence and homicide, (ii) minimSze harm members of law enforcement and the communities they serve.i) foster stronger relationships betwEen § 2.2-526.

§Operation 9.1-194.Ceasefire Grant Fund.

Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention created;

duties.

FromThere suchis fundshereby ascreated mayin bethe appropriated,state thetreasury Virginiaa Centerspecial fornonreverting Firearmfund Violenceto Interventionbe andknown Preventionas the Operation Ceasefire Grant Fund (the Center)Fund) isand herebymanaged establishedby withinthe Office of the Department.Attorney General.

The Center shall:

1.

Serve as the Commonwealth's primary resource for research, best practices, and strategies for the intervention programs designed to reduce violence in communities;intervention, and group violence 2.

Operate a statewide gun violence intervention and prevention research center.

The Center shall serve as the Commonwealth's clearinghouse for data regarding firearm violence and firearm violence intervention and prevention programs collected by state and local agencies and shall maintain an integrated information system containing data, research, and statistical information regarding firearm violence in the Commonwealth;

3.

Facilitate sharing of data regarding firearm violence and firearm violence intervention and prevention programs among state and local agencies, including local health departments, institutions of organizations, and law-enforcement agencies;pitals and other medical care facilities, community-based 4.

In conjunction with the Department of Health, Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of Education, and Department of Veterans Services, work to enhance programs and strategies designed to address firearm violence, including :

35 programs that focus on the prevention of suicide or domestic violence in the populations served by such 36 departments;

37 5.

Facilitate coordination between state agencies, localities, and community-based organizations to 38 develop comprehensive practices for addressing firearm violence and implementing firearm violence int6.

Develop and publish best practices for establishing firearm violence intervention and prevention programs, including street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, community-based violence intervention, and group violence intervention programs;

7.

Provide technical assistance to localities and community-based organizations to support the establishment of firearm violence intervention and prevention programs, including technical assistance on capacity building, obtaining grant funding, and collecting data;

8.

Administer the Virginia Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund established pursuant to § 9.1-195 and provide grants from the Fund to agencies of local government, community-based violence intervention and prevention efforts;of supporting implementation of evidence-informed firearm 9.

Evaluate state and community-based violence intervention programs and policies that receive funding through the Center;

10.

Produce reports and provide analysis and interpretation of statistical information regarding firearm violence, including information on firearm trafficking, crimes involving firearms, mass shootings, suicides, and fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries;

11.

Establish training standards and publish and periodically update model policies for law-enforcement personnel containing best practices for (i) the service and execution of substantial risk from possessing a firearm, and (iii) addressing the different types of firearm violence, includingited SB487 2 of 2 unintentional injuries, mass shootings, domestic violence, suicides, homicides, and community violence;

and 12.

Apply for and accept grants from the United States government or any other source in carrying out the purposes of this article and accept any and all donations, both real and personal, and grants of money from any governmental unit or public agency, or from any institution, person, firm, or corporation, and may receive, utilize, and dispose of the same.

Any moneys received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the account of the Department.

B.

The Center may require and shall receive from every department, division, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is a party or any political subdivision thereof, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties.