AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION (Funds the state crime victim compensation program through an additional one dollar ($1.00) fine on traffic violations, exclusive of violations related to the parking of vehicles.)

H7584

2026 -- H 7584
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LC004640
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

Introduced By:
Representatives Hull, Felix, Tanzi, Kennedy, Alzate, Shallcross Smith,
Fogarty, Boylan, and J. Lombardi

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
(General Treasurer)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 12-25-28 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal
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Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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12-25-28. Special indemnity account for criminal injuries compensation.
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(a) It is provided that the general treasurer establish a violent crimes indemnity account
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within the general fund for the purpose of paying awards granted pursuant to this chapter. The court
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shall assess as court costs in addition to those provided by law, against all defendants charged with
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a felony, misdemeanor,
or
petty misdemeanor,
or traffic violation,
whether or not the crime was a
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crime of violence, and who plead nolo contendere, guilty or who are found guilty of the commission
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of those crimes as follows:
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(1) Where the offense charged is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of five (5) or
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more years imprisonment, one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) or fifteen percent (15%) of any fine
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imposed on the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.
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(2) Where the offense charged is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of less than five
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(5) years imprisonment, ninety dollars ($90.00) or fifteen percent (15%) of any fine imposed on
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the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.
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(3) Where the offense charged is a misdemeanor, thirty dollars ($30.00) or fifteen percent
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(15%) of any fine imposed on the defendant by the court, whichever is greater.
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(4) Where the offense charged is a civil or criminal traffic violation, one dollar ($1.00) of
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any fine imposed on the defendant per charged offense, exclusive of fines imposed for violations

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relating to parking of vehicles. The clerks of courts for each municipality shall collect any fine
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levied under this subsection and shall transmit the collected surcharges within thirty (30) days to
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the crime victims’ compensation fund.
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(b) These costs shall be assessed whether or not the defendant is sentenced to prison and
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in no case shall they be waived by the court unless the court finds an inability to pay.
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(c) When there are multiple counts or multiple charges to be disposed of simultaneously,
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the judge shall have the authority to suspend the obligation of the defendant to pay on all counts or
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charges above two (2).
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(d) Up to fifteen percent (15%) of the state funds raised under this section, as well as federal
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matching funds, shall be available to pay administrative expenses necessary to operate this
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program. Federal funds for this purpose shall not supplant currently available state funds, as
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required by federal law.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect one year after 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 fund the state crime victim compensation program through an additional
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one dollar ($1.00) fine on traffic violations, exclusive of violations related to the parking of
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vehicles.
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This act would take effect one year after passage.
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