HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

HB 1028

Title:  An act relating to compensation for victims of crime.

Brief Description:  Raising compensation limits for crime victims.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ballasiotes, O'Brien, Hurst, Campbell, Conway, Esser, Lambert, Scott, Kessler, Benson, Dickerson, Cody, Schoesler, Rockefeller, Lantz and Wood.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

Staff:  Jean Ann Quinn (786-7310).

Background:

The Crime Victims Act of 1973 established Washington=s crime victims= compensation program (CVCP) to provide benefits to innocent victims of criminal acts.  Benefits under CVCP include medical and mental health costs, disability payments, and benefits for survivors of deceased victims.  Benefits under CVCP are paid secondary to the available insurance resources of the victim. 

The Department of Labor & Industries administers the program, and the benefits available to crime victims are based generally on benefits paid to injured workers under the Industrial Insurance Act.  However, there are some limitations applicable specifically to crime victims such as the following:

(1)Excluding medical benefits, not more than $30,000 is payable as a result of a single injury or death, unless the injury results in total permanent disability or death, in which case the maximum benefit amount is $40,000. 

(2)Not more than $15,000 is payable for total temporary disability.

These caps were last amended in 1990.

Summary:

The limitations on benefits payable are raised by $5,000 each as follows:

(1)Excluding medical benefits, not more than $35,000 is payable as a result of a single injury or death, unless the injury results in total permanent disability or death, in which case the maximum benefit amount is $45,000.

(2)Not more than $20,000 is payable for total temporary disability.

Fiscal Note:  Received.

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