Bill > AB1100

This bill makes several significant changes to California's victim compensation laws to make it easier for victims of crime to receive compensation. The bill expands the definitions of "derivative victim" and "victim," and introduces a new term "victim of violent crime advocate." It removes previous restrictions on applying for compensation, such as requiring a police report or cooperation with law enforcement. Instead, the bill now allows victims to use alternative forms of evidence to prove a crime occurred, including medical records, statements from victim advocates, restraining orders, and medical professional statements. The bill eliminates provisions that previously denied compensation based on the victim's involvement in the events leading to the crime or failure to cooperate with law enforcement. It also modifies the compensation rules for loss of income and support, changing eligibility criteria and reducing the maximum total payment to derivative victims from $100,000 to $70,000. Additionally, the bill simplifies income verification requirements, allowing for a broader range of documentation to prove income loss, such as tax records, bank deposits, and job offer letters. These changes aim to make the victim compensation process more accessible and supportive of crime victims.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1100