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, psychological counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses for victims and their family members. The fund will consist of appropriated moneys, investment earnings, and private contributions, with strict criteria for disbursement, including a three-year waiting period after a mass violence event before payments can be made.
Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a Mass Violence Care Fund Working Group led by the Attorney General to identify eligibility criteria and options for financial relief for those affected by mass violence. The working group will assess gaps in healthcare payments, investment strategies for the fund, and define who qualifies as a victim and what constitutes a mass violence event. The group is required to report its findings and recommendations to the VCCO within nine months of the bill's effective date.