(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the “Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.” The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:
(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature;(b) The interest accruing to the fund;(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73;(d) Monies received from the federal government;(e) Donations to the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund;(f) Assessments collected pursuant to Section 83-39-31; and(g) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.(2) The circuit clerks of the state shall deposit in the fund on a monthly basis the additional fee charged and collected for marriage licenses under the provisions of Section 25-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972.(3) All other monies received by the state from every source for the support of the program for victims of domestic violence, established by Sections 93-21-101 through 93-21-113, shall be deposited in the “Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.” The monies in the fund shall be used by the State Department of Health solely for funding and administering domestic violence shelters under the provisions of Sections 93-21-101 through 93-21-113, in such amounts as the Legislature may appropriate to the department for the program for victims of domestic violence established by Sections 93-21-101 through 93-21-113. Not more than ten percent (10%) of the monies in the “Victims of Domestic Violence Fund” shall be appropriated to the State Department of Health for the administration of domestic violence shelters.(4) From and after July 1, 2014, the Office Against Interpersonal Violence is granted all powers and duties with respect to the management of funds in the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund. Any reference to the Department of Health in this article pertaining to the management of the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund means the Office Against Interpersonal Violence within the Department of Health. In addition to the ten percent (10%) set aside in subsection (3), from and after July 1, 2014, the OAIV is authorized to utilize no more than an additional five percent (5%) of the monies in the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund at its discretion for transition expenses and expense related to statewide projects of the OAIV.(5) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the ability of a domestic violence shelter or other domestic violence program to solicit private donations or community support. Any funds raised by a shelter or program from private donations or community support are not subject to the provisions of this chapter.
