CRIME VICTIM SERVICES S.B. 1212 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1212 (Substitute S-2 as reported) Sponsor: Senator William Van Regenmorter Committee: Judiciary
The bill would amend the crime victim’s compensation Act to rename the Crime Victims Compensation Board as the “Crime Victim Services Commission” and revise that body’s membership. The Commission would continue as the Board’s successor agency in all respects and for all purposes. Members of the Board would continue in office as Commission members for their unexpired terms. The Commission would consist of five, rather than three, members and no more than three, rather than two, could belong to the same political party.
As with the current Board, one member of the proposed Commission would have to have been admitted to the practice of law in Michigan for at least the five years immediately preceding appointment. In addition, the Commission would have to have one member who was a county prosecuting attorney, one who was a peace officer, one who was a member of the medical profession, and one who was a community-based victim advocate. Members’ terms of office would continue to be three years, except that, of the two members appointed to satisfy the bill’s expanded membership requirements, one would have to be appointed to an initial term of two years and the other to an initial term of three years. The bill also would do all of the following:
-- Include as a compensable crime an act of international terrorism that was committed outside of the United States but caused an injury to a Michigan resident.
-- Delete a provision specifying that “out-of-pocket loss” includes, but is not limited to, homemaking and child care services.
-- Increase the maximum amount of an award for funeral expenses from $1,500 to $2,000, and provide that the award could include up to $500 for grief counseling for the victim’s spouse, child, parent, or sibling.
-- Provide that a claimant’s file and testimony before the Commission would be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.
-- Repeal sections of the Act requiring the Board to publish an informational pamphlet or card for domestic violence victims, explaining the legal rights and services available to them (MCL 18.353a), and requiring the Legislature to review the Board’s functions, responsibilities, and performance four years after the Act’s effective date (MCL 18.367). (The Act took effect on March 31, 1977.)
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1213.
MCL 18.351 et al. Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
Please see FISCAL IMPACT for Senate Bill 1213 (S-2).
Date Completed: 11-25-96 Fiscal Analyst: M. Ortiz
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.