For Legislators

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence has been instrumental in the passage, enactment, implementation and enforcement of strong, comprehensive legislation and public policies that respond to the needs of domestic violence survivors and advance work to prevent violence before it occurs. As the statewide domestic violence coalition representing more than 200 organizations and over 2,000 advocates, the Partnership is the leading voice for domestic violence advocates and service providers in California. We work closely with the California state legislature to ensure that survivors’ needs are represented in legislation and budget decisions, because we recognize how policy makers help build healthy and safe communities. We are always open to collaboration. If your office is interested in working with us on the following key issue areas, please reach out:  

• Funding Survivor Services and Prevention Efforts 
• Prevention 
• Housing & Homelessness 
• Economic Justice 
• Addressing the Criminal Legal System 
• Advocacy At the Intersections 

To get a full scope of our current priorities, please see our complete 2025 – 2026 Policy Agenda.

As leading experts on domestic violence policy making, we look forward to working with our state legislature. To discuss specific legislative proposals, contact the Policy Team at policy@cpedv.org. We urge all legislators to support our 2025 priorities:   

Stabilizing Crime Victim Services Funding 

Federal funding for victim services through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) has declined dramatically over many years. State action continues to be needed to prevent domestic violence service providers and other victim services from experiencing devastating across-the-board cuts to funding that would directly impact survivors’ ability to access the safety and healing they need and deserve.  

The Partnership is leading a statewide coalition to advance a budget request for backfill funding in 2025. Nearly 250 organizations representing service providers, district attorneys, local government, and other stakeholders have added their support to this request.

Selected Media Coverage: 

• Mother Jones: The Consequences of Huge Federal Cuts to Domestic Violence Funding “May Be Death” 
• LA Times: Massive budget cuts leave California domestic violence survivors with few options 
• Cal Matters: Domestic violence shelters, a guardrail against homelessness, face steep funding cuts 
• Capitol Weekly: Opinion: Urgent action needed to save critical services for crime victims 

Background on the Victims of Crime Act Funding & Shortfall 

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is the backbone to California’s response to crime victims’ needs. VOCA provides funds for an array of critical services and programs that support Californians after they have experienced a crime. These include domestic violence service providers, Rape Crisis Centers, legal assistance, human trafficking services, a range of options to address survivor homelessness, and other vital services. This funding originates from fines and penalties from convictions in federal cases, not from tax dollars. Every year, Congress determines how much to release from the fund. More information about the Victims of Crime Act is available here. In recent years, the fund’s balance has declined precipitously, and Congress has reduced the amount released.  

Strengthening Survivors’ Access to CalWORKs 

AB 969 (Celeste Rodriguez) will reduce barriers experienced by survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking when applying for and accessing CalWORKs. The bill empowers survivors to successfully request and receive accommodations for CalWORKs program requirements, protecting their families from losing vital benefits while they recover from the abuse. 

Strengthening Immigration Protections 

Every survivor deserves to be able to access the services they need, without fear because of their immigration status. For this to be possible, safe spaces such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, homeless shelters, and courthouses must remain safe and free of threats. SB 841 (Susan Rubio) will establish protocols to protect these sensitive spaces from Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and provide needed certainty for advocates and staff to protect their clients. This bill will only grant entry to ICE personnel with approval from the director of the facility and if a written statement of purpose and a valid judicial warrant are presented with valid ICE identification. Moreover, it will limit ICE’s activities to those areas where clients are not present.