House Bill No. 1394, introduced by Representative Wiley, seeks to amend Louisiana law regarding compensation for victims of crime by changing terminology from "Crime Victims Reparations Fund" to "Crime Victims' Compensation Fund" and from "Crime Victims Reparations Board" to "Crime Victims' Compensation Board." The bill replaces the term "reparations" with "compensation" throughout the relevant statutes and outlines definitions, applicable crimes, and the powers of the board. It also repeals the Victims of Vehicular Homicide Act and specifies that funds from unclaimed winnings and pari-mutuel tickets will be allocated to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund for healthcare services related to victims of sexually oriented crimes. Additionally, the bill extends the application period for compensation claims from one year to three years and clarifies eligibility criteria, including provisions for dependents and household members of victims.

The bill further enhances the support and resources available to crime victims by revising definitions related to victims and claimants, expanding the types of expenses eligible for compensation, and ensuring that victims are not billed for forensic medical examinations. It introduces new attestations from healthcare providers to verify examinations related to crimes and emphasizes the confidentiality of submitted documents. The bill also modifies the criteria for compensation awards, ensuring that victims are not denied compensation based on unrelated criminal convictions. Overall, House Bill No. 1394 aims to streamline the compensation process, improve support for victims, and ensure their privacy and safety.

Statutes affected:
HB969 Original: 4:176(B), 15:2(C)(1), 15:705(C)(3), 15:874(7), 15:875(E), 27:94(C), 27:252(C), 27:394(C), 27:610(A)(3), 32:865(B)(2), 36:4(B)(11), 40:1(A), 44:4(28)
HB969 Engrossed: 4:176(B), 15:2(C)(1), 15:705(C)(3), 15:874(7), 15:875(E), 27:94(C), 27:252(C), 27:394(C), 27:610(A)(3), 32:865(B)(2), 36:4(B)(11), 40:1(A), 44:4(28)