The bill amends Section 12-25-21.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" to expand the scope of emergency compensation for victims of violent crime. The bill introduces a new provision that allows for compensation for modifications to a victim's residence necessary to ensure safety, with a maximum award of one thousand dollars ($1,000). This new category of compensation is added to the existing categories, which include burial expenses, crime scene clean-up, and relocation expenses. The bill specifies that the new award for safety modifications to a victim's residence cannot be awarded in addition to relocation costs and that ongoing costs associated with the modifications are the responsibility of the victim.

The bill also makes minor adjustments to the existing language, such as deleting the word "and" after the listing of relocation expenses to accommodate the addition of the new category. It clarifies that the award for emergency compensation for burial expenses, crime scene clean-up, and relocation costs will be deducted from the final award, and if the victim is not eligible for an award, they must repay the emergency compensation. The final award for a victim cannot exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The act is set to take effect upon passage, allowing victims to immediately benefit from the new provision for safety modifications to their residences.

Statutes affected:
7747  SUB B: 12-25-21.1
7747  SUB A: 12-25-21.1
7747: 12-25-21.1