HB 641

This bill enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act, which requires the following:  Requires, in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and subsequent fiscal years, any increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children's services in child protective services to be accompanied by an increase in funding of 75% of the increase in funding to the contracts of the child advocacy center in each judicial district for the purpose of services to child victims in each fiscal year.  Subject to appropriation, requires the department of children's services to increase each child advocacy contract as follows: (i) a contract labeled as ""child advocacy center"" must be increased to a base of $127, 855.98, and (ii) a contract labeled as ""forensic child interviewer"" must be increased to a base of $85, 000 per contracted interviewer.  Requires funds appropriated for child advocacy centers to be allocated in accordance with the formula and the contract's applicable base pursuant to this bill. ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 641, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 replaces the provision of this bill that would link funding increases for contracts of child advocacy centers to inc reases in funding for positions or office expenses for DCS. This amendment instead provides that, e ach December, when the state funding board presents its state revenue estimates, the board must also certify the growth rate of the state general fund reven ue based on actual revenue collections from the prior fiscal year. I f the growth rate that is certified for the prior fiscal year equals or exceeds one percent, then this amendment requires that the base amount of the contracts of the child advocacy cente r in each judicial district be increased on the subsequent July 1 by three percent for the purpose of providing services to child victims."