Community violence intervention and creation of the Office of Violence Prevention in the Department of Health Services. (FE)

2. Collaborate with other state agencies that are interested or active in the reduction of interpersonal violence.

3. Integrate violence prevention education into existing and planned state-funded substance use and abuse prevention programs.

4. Support the development and implementation of comprehensive, community-based violence prevention initiatives within cities and towns across the state.

5. Develop sources of funding beyond state revenues to maintain the office and expand its activities.

6. Create a directory of existing violence prevention services and activities in each county.

7. Develop and recommend additional wraparound and support services that include both interpersonal violence and suicide prevention programs and are funded by local governing bodies.

8. Support local organizations that provide violence prevention services in seeking out and applying for grant funding in support of their initiatives.

9. With the support of DHS, develop and implement a public health strategy for preventing violence.

10. Conduct a statewide public health campaign on the effect of violence, strategies for violence cessation, and the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques.

The bill directs the office to establish and implement a program to award grants to support effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately affected by violence. Grants are to be awarded competitively to counties and cities that are disproportionately affected by violence, and to community-based organizations that serve the residents of those counties or cities.

Where appropriate, the bill allows two or more counties or cities to submit joint applications to provide more comprehensive solutions. Grantees must submit to the office at regular intervals reports that describe the grantee's progress in achieving the grant objectives.