2026 -- S 2832 | |
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LC004670 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION | |
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Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Tikoian, Murray, Burke, LaMountain, DiPalma, and | |
Date Introduced: March 04, 2026 | |
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
(General Treasurer) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 12-25-21.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal |
2 | Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 12-25-21.1. Emergency fund for victims. |
4 | (a) The office may award emergency compensation under this chapter for the: (1) Burial |
5 | expenses of a victim who dies as a direct result of a violent crime as defined in this chapter; (2) |
6 | Cost of the crime scene clean up; (3) Relocation expenses; and (4) Compensation for modifications |
7 | to a victim’s residence necessary to ensure safety. |
8 | (b) The award for emergency compensation shall be awarded at the sole discretion of the |
9 | program administrator. The administrator may promulgate rules and regulations to administer the |
10 | provisions of this section. |
11 | (c) An award for emergency compensation for burial expenses shall not exceed the sum of |
12 | ten thousand dollars ($10,000). |
13 | (d) An award for emergency compensation for crime scene clean up shall not exceed two |
14 | thousand dollars ($2,000). |
15 | (e) An award for emergency compensation for relocation costs shall not exceed five |
16 | thousand dollars ($5,000) eight thousand dollars ($8,000). |
17 | (f) An award for expenses associated with reasonable modifications to the victim’s |
18 | residence necessary to ensure victim safety shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall |
19 | not be awarded in addition to an award for emergency compensation for relocation costs. Further, |
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1 | any ongoing costs or expenses associated with maintaining or monitoring any modification made |
2 | pursuant to this subsection shall be borne exclusively by the victim. |
3 | (g) The award for emergency compensation for burial expenses, crime scene clean up, and |
4 | relocation costs shall be deducted from the final award. In the event the victim is not eligible for an |
5 | award, the victim shall repay the amount of the emergency award to the fund. |
6 | (h) Any payments made for the emergency compensation shall be deducted from the final |
7 | award. In no event shall the final award exceed the maximum award of twenty-five thousand dollars |
8 | ($25,000). |
9 | 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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1 | This act would, under the emergency fund for victims, increase the share of a victim’s total |
2 | award that may be used for relocation related expenses but would not increase total compensation |
3 | available to a victim. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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