HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1028

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Criminal Justice & Corrections

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.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Criminal Justice & Corrections:  1/19/99, 2/24/99 [DP];

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Increases the statutory limits on non-medical benefits payable to victims of criminal acts under the Crime Victims' Compensation Program.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Republican Co-Chair; O'Brien, Democratic Co-Chair; Cairnes, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; B. Chandler; Constantine; Kagi and Koster.

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 of Bill:

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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.