H 7547

2026 -- H 7547
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LC004643
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
   RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION
  Introduced By: Representatives Furtado, Stewart, McGaw, Dawson, Cotter, Potter,
  Donovan, Alzate, Messier, and Kislak
  Date Introduced: February 06, 2026
  Referred To: House Judiciary
  (General Treasurer)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Sections 12-25-20 and 12-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25
2 entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" are hereby amended to read as follows:
312-25-20. Offenses to which chapter applies.
4The office may award compensation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for
5 personal injury or death which resulted from offenses in the following categories:
6(1) Assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, or rape;
7(2) Assault with a dangerous weapon;
8(3) Assault and battery;
9(4) Mayhem;
10(5) Indecent assault and battery on a child under thirteen (13) years of age;
11(6) Arson or statutory burning;
12(7) Kidnapping;
13(8) Robbery or larceny from that person;
14(9) Murder;
15(10) Manslaughter;
16(11) First or second degree sexual assault;
17(12) Child molestation, first or second degree;
18(13) The abominable and detestable crime against nature or assault with intent to commit
19 the abominable and detestable crime against nature Stalking pursuant to § 11-59-2;
1(14) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
2(15) Refusal by a driver to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs in the immediate
3 aftermath of a collision;
4(16) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death, pursuant to § 31-27-1;
5(17) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in personal injury, pursuant to § 31-27-1.1;
6(18) Any other crime excluding motor vehicle offenses other than those enumerated in this
7 section which results in personal injury or death; and
8(19) Failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in the death of any person,
9 pursuant to § 31-26-1.
1012-25-21. Nature of compensation.
11(a) The office may award compensation under this chapter for:
12(1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of
13 the victim;
14(2) Pecuniary loss to the dependents of the deceased victim;
15(3) Any other pecuniary loss resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim, the
16 amount of which the office finds upon the evidence to be reasonable and necessary;
17(4) The administrator may issue a supplemental award for compensation for additional
18 medical expenses, including psychiatric care and mental health counseling, provided that the victim
19 provides proper documentation that the additional medical expenses have been actually and
20 reasonably incurred as a direct result of the personal injury. The administrator shall issue a
21 supplemental award as long as the total award does not exceed the maximum award allowable
22 under this chapter;
23(5) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and
24 mental health counseling for a parent, spouse, sibling or child of a victim who dies as a direct result
25 of a violent crime as defined in this chapter, provided that the parent, spouse, sibling or child
26 provide proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been
27 actually and reasonably incurred as a direct result of the death of the victim; and
28(6) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and
29 mental health counseling for a secondary victim, provided that the secondary victim provides
30 proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been actually
31 and reasonably incurred as a direct result of witnessing the homicide of a victim or the domestic
32 violence incident against a victim. An award issued to a secondary victim for psychiatric care and
33 mental health counseling shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and shall not
34 be paid upon a secondary victim reaching the age of eighteen (18); and
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1(7) Where an individual has been the victim of stalking, the administrator may only award
2 emergency compensation for relocation or for reasonable modifications to a victim’s residence
3 under § 12-25-21.1. Victims of stalking shall not be entitled to compensation for any other expense
4 unless they were the victim of another compensable offense under § 12-25-20.
5(b) In determining the amount of the judgment or order approving a settlement, the office
6 shall take into consideration the rates and amounts payable for injuries and death under other
7 statutes of this state and of the United States, and the amount of revenue in the violent crimes
8 indemnity account and the number and nature of claims pending against it. The office shall make
9 every effort to ensure that compensation awards are paid within six (6) months of the date of
10 application.
11SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION
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1This act would permit victims of stalking to recover expenses related to relocation or home
2 modification under the crime victim compensation program, and would remove larceny and the
3 abominable and detestable crime against nature or assault with intent to commit the abominable
4 and detestable crime against nature as compensable offenses.
5This act would take effect upon passage.
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