2016 -- H 7538 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Coughlin, Solomon, Johnston, and Messier

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (General Treasurer)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 12-25-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal

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Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-25-17. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter:

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      (1) "Administrator" means the program administrator of this chapter.

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      (2) "Child" means an unmarried person who is under eighteen (18) years of age and

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includes a stepchild or an adopted child.

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      (3) "Court" means the superior court.

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      (4) "Dependent" means a person wholly or partially dependent upon the income of the

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victim at the time of his or her death or would have been so dependent but for the incapacity due

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to the injury from which the death resulted. The term includes a child of the victim born after the

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death of the victim.

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      (5) "Office" means the office of the general treasurer.

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      (6) "Pecuniary loss" includes:

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      (i) For personal injury:

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      (A) Medical expenses (including psychiatric care) for which the victim is not

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compensated by any other source;

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      (B) Hospital expenses for which the victim is not compensated by any other source;

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      (C) Loss of past earnings for which the victim is not compensated by any other source;

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      (D) Loss of future earnings because of a disability resulting from the personal injury for

 

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which the victim is not compensated by any other source.

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      (ii) For death:

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      (A) Funeral and burial expenses for which the victim's estate is not compensated by any

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other source; and

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      (B) Loss of support to the dependents of the victim for which the dependents are not

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compensated by any other source.

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      (iii) Any other expenses actually and necessarily incurred as a result of the personal

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injury or death for which the victim or his or her estate is not compensated by any other source,

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but it does not include property damage.

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      (7) "Personal injury" means actual bodily harm, mental or nervous shock, and a

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pregnancy resulting from sexual attack.

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      (8) "Relative" means a spouse, parent, grandparent, stepfather, stepmother, child,

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grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, and a spouse's parents.

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      (9) "Resident" means any person who has his or her residence within the state of Rhode

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Island.

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      (10) "State" includes the District of Columbia, the fifty (50) states, and the United States'

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territories and possessions.

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      (11) "Treasurer" means the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island or his or her

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designee.

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      (12) "Victim" means a person who is injured or killed by any act of a person or persons

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which is within the description of any of the offenses specified in § 12-25-20 and which act

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occurs in the state of Rhode Island. "Victim" also means a resident of the state of Rhode Island

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who is a victim of an act of terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2331 occurring outside the United

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States or within the United States as referred to in 42 U.S.C. §10603b.

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      (13) "1972 Act" means the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1972, established

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pursuant to former §§ 12-25-1 -- 12-25-12.1.

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      (14) "1996 Act" means the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1996, established

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pursuant to §§ 12-25-16 -- 12-25-30.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

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     This act would make residents of Rhode Island who are victims of terrorist acts outside

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the state of Rhode Island but within the United States, eligible to receive victim's compensation

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payments under this chapter.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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