The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws in Chapter 12-25, "Criminal Injuries Compensation," by introducing a new definition for "medical forensic examination" and expanding the scope of emergency compensation to include expenses for reasonable modifications to a victim's residence for safety, with a cap of $1,000. It also extends the timeframe for victims of sexual offenses or rape to claim compensation to within fifteen days of receiving a medical forensic examination, regardless of whether the crime was reported within the usual fifteen-day window. Additionally, the bill includes traffic violations (excluding parking violations) in the offenses that will incur court costs to fund the special indemnity account for criminal injuries compensation.
The bill also seeks to impose a $2.00 fine on civil or criminal traffic violations, with the exception of parking violations. The surcharges collected by the clerks of courts from each municipality are to be transmitted to the crime victims' compensation fund within 30 days. This measure aims to enhance the funding of the state crime victims compensation program. Furthermore, it allows victims to use the program funds for residence modifications for safety and acknowledges a medical forensic examination as a basis for program eligibility, even in the absence of a police report. The bill is set to take effect one year after its passage.