Pennsylvania law funds children's advocacy centers with a new fee on people convicted of sex offenses
Act 84, signed Oct. 22, charges up to $1,000 for each covered offense and sends the money to the state's children's advocacy centers by a noncompetitive formula. The state's crime commission expects $3.6 million to $3.9 million a year.
Harrisburg. Pennsylvania's children's advocacy centers, which Spotlight PA reports are mostly nonprofits, will share a new state fund paid for by people convicted of sex offenses, under a law Gov. Josh Shapiro signed on Oct. 22.
House Bill 2443, now Act 84 of 2026, creates a Child Victim Recovery Fee and a Child Victim Recovery Fund in the State Treasury. Courts will charge the fee for each covered sexual offense: $1,000 for a felony, $400 for a misdemeanor and $250 for placement in a pretrial diversionary program such as Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. It comes on top of other fines and costs and may not reduce restitution. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, in April.
How the money reaches the centers
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will award annual grants by a noncompetitive formula it must publish, weighing at least each center's forensic interviews, its service area and population, and its accreditation level or membership in the National Children's Alliance. If the fund falls short, grants are prorated, and the commission may keep up to 5 percent for administration. Centers may spend the money on forensic interviews and medical evaluations, trauma-focused mental health services, victim advocacy, facilities and training, but not to replace other public money.
The commission estimates the fee will raise $3.6 million to $3.9 million a year, assuming 55 percent is collected, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee's fiscal note. The state now sets aside about $2 million a year from birth certificate fees for the 41 centers, Spotlight PA reported. Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania, their statewide association, estimates they must raise $14.5 million a year from other sources to be fully funded.
A provision cut in the Senate
Reps. Kyle Mullins, a Democrat from Lackawanna County, and Jim Rigby, a Republican from Cambria County, introduced the bill in April, and the House passed it 202 to 0 in June. That version let courts weigh a defendant's ability to pay, which the ACLU of Pennsylvania had sought. The Senate Appropriations Committee removed it on Oct. 20; Mr. Mullins told Spotlight PA that House Democrats agreed to the cut to reach a deal with Senate Republican leaders. The Senate passed the bill 47 to 3 on Oct. 21, and the House concurred 203 to 0 the same day.
Meghan Lennox Gagorik, executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which conducted more than 650 forensic interviews last year, said the money would free time her staff now spends finding funding.
“Every bit of time that we aren't dedicating to creating funding sources, we can repurpose into building up our team better and serving our clients better.”
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