AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION (Under the emergency fund for victims, increases the share of a victim’s total award that may be used for relocation related expenses but not increase total compensation available to a victim.)

H8155

2026 -- H 8155
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LC004642
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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 Diaz, Giraldo, Alzate, Stewart, Kennedy, Fellela,
Furtado, Kislak, Ajello, and Hull

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
(General Treasurer)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 12-25-21.1 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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12-25-21.1. Emergency fund for victims.
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(a) The office may award emergency compensation under this chapter for the: (1) Burial
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expenses of a victim who dies as a direct result of a violent crime as defined in this chapter; (2)
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Cost of the crime scene clean up; (3) Relocation expenses; and (4) Compensation for modifications
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to a victim’s residence necessary to ensure safety.
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(b) The award for emergency compensation shall be awarded at the sole discretion of the
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program administrator. The administrator may promulgate rules and regulations to administer the
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provisions of this section.
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(c) An award for emergency compensation for burial expenses shall not exceed the sum of
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ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
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(d) An award for emergency compensation for crime scene clean up shall not exceed two
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thousand dollars ($2,000).
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(e) An award for emergency compensation for relocation costs shall not exceed
five
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thousand dollars ($5,000)

eight thousand dollars ($8,000)
.
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(f) An award for expenses associated with reasonable modifications to the victim’s
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residence necessary to ensure victim safety shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall
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not be awarded in addition to an award for emergency compensation for relocation costs. Further,

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any ongoing costs or expenses associated with maintaining or monitoring any modification made
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pursuant to this subsection shall be borne exclusively by the victim.
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(g) The award for emergency compensation for burial expenses, crime scene clean up, and
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relocation costs shall be deducted from the final award. In the event the victim is not eligible for an
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award, the victim shall repay the amount of the emergency award to the fund.
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(h) Any payments made for the emergency compensation shall be deducted from the final
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award. In no event shall the final award exceed the maximum award of twenty-five thousand dollars
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($25,000).
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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, under the emergency fund for victims, increase the share of a victim’s total
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award that may be used for relocation related expenses but would not increase total compensation
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available to a victim.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004642
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