HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

HB 1392

Title:An act relating to the crime victims= compensation program.

Brief Description:Enhancing crime victims= compensation.

Sponsors: Representatives Ballasiotes and Costa.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

Staff:Yvonne Walker (786-7841)

Background:  The Crime Victims Act of 1973 established Washington=s Crime Victims= Compensation Program (CVCP) to provide benefits to innocent victims of criminal acts.  The Department of Labor and Industries was assigned authority for administering the program because benefits available to crime victims under this program were originally based on benefits paid to injured workers under the Industrial Insurance Act.

Confidentiality of Records.  Under the Public Records Act,  numerous records relating to personal privacy or vital governmental interests are sealed from public inspection and copying.  It is unclear, however, whether this provision applies to records relating to appeals of crime victim=s compensation claims.

Unspent Appropriations.  Unspent appropriations for the crime victims= compensation program remaining at the end of the fiscal biennium are reverted to the public safety and education account.  The unexpended balance in the public safety and education account is available for expenditure in the next fiscal period.

Summary:Confidentiality of Records.  An expressed provision is added to ensure records relating to

appeals of crime victims= compensation claims are exempt from public inspection and copying requirements contained in the Public Records Act.

Unspent Appropriations.  Unspent appropriations for the crime victims= compensation program remaining at the end of the fiscal biennium must be carried forward and used for the crime victims= compensation program the following fiscal year.  This applies to any amounts up to 15 percent of the total biennial appropriation for the crime victims= compensation program.

Require the Exercise of Rule- Making Powers:  No.

Fiscal Note:Received February 6, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.