Bill > S03149

This bill establishes the Child Victims Act Fund, a special fund designed to provide financial reimbursement to public school districts and voluntary foster care agencies in New York that have been named as defendants in child sexual abuse legal cases. The fund will be jointly managed by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, the Comptroller, and the Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services. To support the fund, both corporate and personal income taxpayers will have the option to make voluntary contributions starting in 2025. The fund can only reimburse school districts or agencies that meet specific criteria: they must have made a good-faith effort to locate insurance coverage for the period in question, received a monetary judgment or settlement, and be able to demonstrate that paying the full amount would substantially burden their ability to serve their existing student population. The bill appropriates $200 million to the fund and requires the Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services to provide an annual detailed report on the fund's usage, including disbursement amounts, recipients, and financial plans. The primary goal is to support public institutions that have been financially impacted by child sexual abuse litigation while ensuring transparency in the fund's administration.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3149