AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION (Permits victims of stalking to recover for expenses related to relocation or home modification under the crime victim compensation program.)

H7547

2026 -- H 7547
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LC004643
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
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:
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SECTION 1. Sections 12-25-20 and 12-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25
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entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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12-25-20. Offenses to which chapter applies.
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The office may award compensation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for
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personal injury or death which resulted from offenses in the following categories:
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(1) Assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, or rape;
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(2) Assault with a dangerous weapon;
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(3) Assault and battery;
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(4) Mayhem;
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(5) Indecent assault and battery on a child under thirteen (13) years of age;
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(6) Arson or statutory burning;
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(7) Kidnapping;
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(8) Robbery
or larceny from that person
;
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(9) Murder;
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(10) Manslaughter;
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(11) First or second degree sexual assault;
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(12) Child molestation, first or second degree;
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(13)
The abominable and detestable crime against nature or assault with intent to commit
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the abominable and detestable crime against nature

Stalking pursuant to § 11-59-2
;

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(14) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
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(15) Refusal by a driver to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs in the immediate
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aftermath of a collision;
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(16) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death, pursuant to § 31-27-1;
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(17) Driving so as to endanger, resulting in personal injury, pursuant to § 31-27-1.1;
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(18) Any other crime excluding motor vehicle offenses other than those enumerated in this
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section which results in personal injury or death; and
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(19) Failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in the death of any person,
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pursuant to § 31-26-1.
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12-25-21. Nature of compensation.
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(a) The office may award compensation under this chapter for:
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(1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of
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the victim;
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(2) Pecuniary loss to the dependents of the deceased victim;
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(3) Any other pecuniary loss resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim, the
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amount of which the office finds upon the evidence to be reasonable and necessary;
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(4) The administrator may issue a supplemental award for compensation for additional
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medical expenses, including psychiatric care and mental health counseling, provided that the victim
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provides proper documentation that the additional medical expenses have been actually and
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reasonably incurred as a direct result of the personal injury. The administrator shall issue a
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supplemental award as long as the total award does not exceed the maximum award allowable
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under this chapter;
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(5) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and
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mental health counseling for a parent, spouse, sibling or child of a victim who dies as a direct result
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of a violent crime as defined in this chapter, provided that the parent, spouse, sibling or child
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provide proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been
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actually and reasonably incurred as a direct result of the death of the victim;
and
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(6) The administrator may issue an award for expenses related to psychiatric care and
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mental health counseling for a secondary victim, provided that the secondary victim provides
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proper documentation that the psychiatric care and mental health counseling have been actually
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and reasonably incurred as a direct result of witnessing the homicide of a victim or the domestic
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violence incident against a victim. An award issued to a secondary victim for psychiatric care and
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mental health counseling shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and shall not
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be paid upon a secondary victim reaching the age of eighteen (18)
; and

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(7) Where an individual has been the victim of stalking, the administrator may only award
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emergency compensation for relocation or for reasonable modifications to a victim’s residence
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under § 12-25-21.1. Victims of stalking shall not be entitled to compensation for any other expense
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unless they were the victim of another compensable offense under § 12-25-20
.
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(b) In determining the amount of the judgment or order approving a settlement, the office
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shall take into consideration the rates and amounts payable for injuries and death under other
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statutes of this state and of the United States, and the amount of revenue in the violent crimes
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indemnity account and the number and nature of claims pending against it. The office shall make
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every effort to ensure that compensation awards are paid within six (6) months of the date of
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application.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION
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This act would permit victims of stalking to recover expenses related to relocation or home
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modification under the crime victim compensation program, and would remove larceny and the
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abominable and detestable crime against nature or assault with intent to commit the abominable
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and detestable crime against nature as compensable offenses.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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