CRIME VICTIM'S RIGHTS FUND                                                                       S.B. 138:

                                                                                            SUMMARY AS ENROLLED

Senate Bill 138 (as enrolled)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Hildenbrand

Senate Committee:  Appropriations

House Committee:  Appropriations

Date Completed:  3-18-15

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 196 of 1989, which created the Crime Victim's Rights Fund, to permit, in FY 2014-15 only, the use of up to $4.8 million in Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue to support the statewide trauma system.

Under the Act, individuals convicted of felonies, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations are assessed penalties that accrue to the Fund. Disbursements from the Fund are used to pay for services and reimbursements to crime victims.

Public Act 280 of 2010 directed that up to $3.5 million in excess Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue be used to establish and maintain a statewide trauma system. The intent was to create a regionalized trauma system with eight regions, with the goal of greater coordination and accountability to improve health outcomes.

In the FY 2014-15 budget, there was $3.5 million in Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue expected to be used to support the trauma system. There was also an explicit one-time appropriation of $1.3 million GF/GP to support the system.

The Snyder Administration, in supplemental request 2015-3, proposed replacing the $1.3 million in GF/GP funding with $1.3 million in Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue, increasing the amount of Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue used for the trauma system to $4.8 million. This proposal is reflected in House Bill 4112 (H-1), an FY 2014-15 supplemental passed by the House on February 18, 2015.

The statute at present limits the use of Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue for the statewide trauma system to $3.5 million, below the $4.8 million that would be used if the Governor's proposed supplemental is enacted. As noted above, Senate Bill 138 would amend the Crime Victim's Rights Fund statute to permit, in FY 2014-15 only, the use of up to $4.8 million in Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue to support the statewide trauma system.

MCL 780.904

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would, in concert with the Governor's proposed supplemental, reduce GF/GP expenditures by $1.3 million, replacing that revenue with Crime Victim's Rights Fund revenue. There is a sufficient surplus in the Crime Victim's Rights Fund, estimated at over $19.5 million.

                                                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Steve Angelotti

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.