AB-1716 • 2026

California Victim Compensation Board: tuition reimbursement.

Budget Crime Education Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Stefani
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on how the board will decide which victims receive reimbursement or if there are limits on multiple reimbursements.

California Victim Compensation Board: Tuition Reimbursement

This bill allows victims of sexual assault or violence to receive up to $10,000 in tuition reimbursement from the California Victim Compensation Board if they are unable to continue their studies or face academic problems due to the crime.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes the board to reimburse up to $10,000 for tuition at an educational institution for full- or part-time students who are victims of sexual assault or violence and cannot continue attending school or suffer an academic setback as a result of the crime.
Limits compensation to the term when the crime occurred and the immediately following term.

Who It Names or Affects

Victims of sexual assault or violence who are full- or part-time students at educational institutions in California.

Terms To Know

Restitution Fund: A fund that is continuously available to the board for compensating victims and derivative victims of certain crimes.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the board will decide which victims get tuition reimbursement.
It is unclear if there are limits on how many times a student can receive this help.

Bill History

2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1716, as introduced, Stefani.
California Victim Compensation Board: tuition reimbursement.
Existing law generally provides for the compensation of victims and derivative victims of specified types of crimes by the California Victim Compensation Board from the Restitution Fund, which is continuously appropriated to the board. Existing law authorizes the board to grant for pecuniary loss, when the board determines that it will best aid the person seeking compensation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board to reimburse, among other things, the amount of medical or medical-related expenses and outpatient psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health counseling-related expenses incurred by the victim or derivative victim, as specified.
This bill would also authorize the board to reimburse the expense of tuition at an educational institution, not to exceed $10,000, to a full- or part-time student who is a victim of sexual
assault or violence if the victim is unable to continue attendance or suffers an academic setback, as described. The bill would authorize the board to limit compensation to the term the crime occurred and the immediately following term, and would require the calculation of an award based on certain factors, as specified. By expanding the board’s authorization for use of moneys in the Restitution Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF