| Chapter 032 |
| 2024 -- H 7747 SUBSTITUTE B Enacted 05/28/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION |
Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Felix, Morales, Casimiro, Kazarian, Alzate, Baginski, Fogarty, Vella-Wilkinson, and McNamara |
| Date Introduced: February 28, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 12-25-21.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal |
| Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 12-25-21.1. Emergency fund for victims. |
| (a) The office may award emergency compensation under this chapter for the: (1) Burial |
| expenses of a victim who dies as a direct result of a violent crime as defined in this chapter; (2) |
| Cost of the crime scene clean up; and (3) Relocation expenses; and (4) Compensation for |
| modifications to a victim's residence necessary to ensure safety. |
| (b) The award for emergency compensation shall be awarded at the sole discretion of the |
| program administrator. The administrator may promulgate rules and regulations to administer the |
| provisions of this section. |
| (c) An award for emergency compensation for burial expenses shall not exceed the sum of |
| ten thousand dollars ($10,000). |
| (d) An award for emergency compensation for crime scene clean up shall not exceed two |
| thousand dollars ($2,000). |
| (e) An award for emergency compensation for relocation costs shall not exceed five |
| thousand dollars ($5,000). |
| (f) An award for expenses associated with reasonable modifications to the victim's |
| residence necessary to ensure victim safety shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall |
| not be awarded in addition to an award for emergency compensation for relocation costs. Further, |
| any ongoing costs or expenses associated with maintaining or monitoring any modification made |
| pursuant to this subsection shall be borne exclusively by the victim. |
| (f)(g) The award for emergency compensation for burial expenses, crime scene clean up, |
| and relocation costs shall be deducted from the final award. In the event the victim is not eligible |
| for an award, the victim shall repay the amount of the emergency award to the fund. |
| (g)(h) Any payments made for the emergency compensation shall be deducted from the |
| final award. In no event shall the final award exceed the maximum award of twenty-five thousand |
| dollars ($25,000). |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC004580/SUB B |
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