The bill establishes the Mass Violence Care Fund within the Department of Law and Public Safety, appropriating $10 million to support victims of mass violence events. The fund will be administered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) and is intended to cover physical and behavioral health care expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance or other sources. Eligible expenses include medical costs, mental health counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses, among others. The VCCO is tasked with creating rules and regulations to determine eligibility for fund distributions, which can only occur three years after a mass violence event and cannot duplicate payments from other public or private sources.
Additionally, the bill mandates the formation of a Mass Violence Care Fund Working Group led by the Attorney General. This group will assess gaps in funding for victims' health care services, explore investment strategies for the fund, and establish criteria for determining who qualifies as a victim and what expenses are eligible for coverage. The working group will consist of various appointed members, including legislators and representatives from relevant state departments and organizations. They are required to submit a report with recommendations within nine months of the bill's effective date.