Bill Overview
Title: To extend by 19 days the authorization for the special assessment for the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund.
Description: This bill extends until September 30, 2022, the special assessment of $5,000 on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human trafficking. Currently, the special assessment expires on September 11, 2022.
Sponsors: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by human trafficking and sexual abuse globally
Estimated Size: 1990000
- The bill extends the duration for which a special assessment of $5,000 is applied to those convicted of sexual abuse or human trafficking offenses.
- Victims of sexual abuse or human trafficking may indirectly be affected as the funds are directed to supporting victim services.
- The fund supports resources and services necessary to assist victims in their recovery and reintegration, such as legal aid, counseling, and shelters.
- By extending the special assessment, more financial resources will be available for the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, potentially benefiting new and ongoing cases.
Reasoning
- The bill affects convicted offenders by extending their financial obligations, while the funds collected benefit victims through support services such as counseling, legal aid, and shelters.
- Considering a moderate impact on victims, the improvement in their self-reported wellbeing can be expected over time due to better access to resources aiding recovery.
- Not all individuals will perceive a direct impact, particularly those not utilizing the services funded by the assessment, reflecting a variety of experiences.
- Some victims may not immediately attribute improvements in wellbeing to the policy, especially those already receiving support but seeing no immediate change in assistance volume.
Simulated Interviews
Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see firsthand how important these funds are for victim services.
- Extending the financial support ensures we can continue providing necessary aid.
- The victims often lack other means of support, making this funding crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Non-Profit Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This extension is vital as it ensures uninterrupted support for victims.
- It positively affects the wellbeing of those we serve, though it may not be obvious at first.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Survivor Advocate (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding is a lifeline for many who have no other support.
- It will allow many survivors to access the services they need to rebuild their lives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Independent Consultant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funds will help sustain programs but need better distribution.
- More consistent funding allows long-term program planning which benefits victims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Important to see these policies in place, they make a difference.
- Feel hopeful this extension will have positive results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Denver, CO)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this are crucial from what I've seen in my career.
- They do a lot of good behind the scenes, but sometimes it's slow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Extending these assessments provides my clients with more security.
- The system works better when we have the means to support victims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Victim Support Coordinator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without this funding, we would struggle to provide adequate support.
- The extension is a relief for our planning and victims' futures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Counselor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The impact may be subtle but these extensions are necessary.
- It's about preventing future fall off in victim support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These funds help victims, but it's hard to measure impact precisely.
- Long term data will show how effective extensions like this are.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3280000 (Low: $2850000, High: $3720000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The short duration of the extended assessment period limits long-term fiscal impacts.
- Judicial processing speed and sentencing within the extension are critical to maximizing assessment collections.
- Societal benefits from improved victim services may offset some direct costs of the policy.