H 8155

2026 -- H 8155
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 LC004642
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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 Diaz, Giraldo, Alzate, Stewart, Kennedy, Fellela,
  Furtado, Kislak, Ajello, and Hull
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Finance
  (General Treasurer)
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 12-25-21.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal
2 Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows:
312-25-21.1. Emergency fund for victims.
4(a) The office may award emergency compensation under this chapter for the: (1) Burial
5 expenses of a victim who dies as a direct result of a violent crime as defined in this chapter; (2)
6 Cost of the crime scene clean up; (3) Relocation expenses; and (4) Compensation for modifications
7 to a victim’s residence necessary to ensure safety.
8(b) The award for emergency compensation shall be awarded at the sole discretion of the
9 program administrator. The administrator may promulgate rules and regulations to administer the
10 provisions of this section.
11(c) An award for emergency compensation for burial expenses shall not exceed the sum of
12 ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
13(d) An award for emergency compensation for crime scene clean up shall not exceed two
14 thousand dollars ($2,000).
15(e) An award for emergency compensation for relocation costs shall not exceed five
16 thousand dollars ($5,000) eight thousand dollars ($8,000).
17(f) An award for expenses associated with reasonable modifications to the victim’s
18 residence necessary to ensure victim safety shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall
19 not be awarded in addition to an award for emergency compensation for relocation costs. Further,
1 any ongoing costs or expenses associated with maintaining or monitoring any modification made
2 pursuant to this subsection shall be borne exclusively by the victim.
3(g) The award for emergency compensation for burial expenses, crime scene clean up, and
4 relocation costs shall be deducted from the final award. In the event the victim is not eligible for an
5 award, the victim shall repay the amount of the emergency award to the fund.
6(h) Any payments made for the emergency compensation shall be deducted from the final
7 award. In no event shall the final award exceed the maximum award of twenty-five thousand dollars
8 ($25,000).
9SECTION 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
  ***
1This act would, under the emergency fund for victims, increase the share of a victim’s total
2 award that may be used for relocation related expenses but would not increase total compensation
3 available to a victim.
4This act would take effect upon passage.
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