US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      Sec. 54-210. Compensation ordered for expenses, loss of earnings, pecuniary loss and other losses. (a) The Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner may order the payment of compensation under this chapter for: (1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of the victim, provided coverage for the cost of medical care and treatment of a crime victim who does not have medical insurance or who has exhausted coverage under applicable health insurance policies or Medicaid shall be ordered; (2) loss of earning power as a result of total or partial incapacity of such victim; (3) pecuniary loss to the spouse or dependents of the deceased victim, including zero to one per cent loans of up to one hundred thousand dollars, with repayment beginning five years from the date the loan was awarded, provided the family qualifies for compensation as a result of murder or manslaughter of the victim; (4) pecuniary loss to the relatives or dependents of a deceased victim for attendance at court proceedings with respect to the criminal case of the person or persons charged with committing the crime that resulted in the death of the victim; and (5) any other loss, except as set forth in section 54-211, resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim which the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the case may be, determines to be reasonable. At the discretion of said office or victim compensation commissioner, there shall be one hundred dollars deductible from the total amount determined by said office or victim compensation commissioner. Loan funds awarded under subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be used to pay for essential living expenses, directly resulting from the loss of income provided by the deceased victim, or preexisting financial obligations that are not otherwise forgiven or excused. The Office of the Chief Court Administrator shall establish procedures and forms for the application and repayment of such loans.

      (b) Payment of compensation under this chapter may be made to a person who is a recipient of public assistance or state-administered general assistance for necessary and reasonable expenses related to injuries resulting from a crime and not provided for by the income assistance program in which such person is a participant. Unless required by federal law, no such payment shall be considered an asset for purposes of eligibility for such assistance.

      (P.A. 78-261, S. 10, 17; P.A. 87-217; 87-554, S. 9; P.A. 92-153, S. 6; P.A. 93-310, S. 9, 32; P.A. 97-257, S. 5, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 111, 165; P.A. 99-128, S. 1; 99-184, S. 4; P.A. 00-200, S. 1; P.A. 04-76, S. 41.)

      History: P.A. 87-217 added Subsec. (b)(1) permitting board to order compensation to recipient of income assistance for expenses related to injuries resulting from crime and not provided for by income assistance program and (2) providing no such payment shall be considered asset for purposes of eligibility for assistance unless required by federal law; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 92-153 made no change; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services" or "office of victim services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the case may be", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-257 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring order of coverage for cost of medical care of victim who does not have medical insurance or who has exhausted coverage, effective July 1, 1998; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (b) to make technical and conforming changes re references to assistance programs, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-128 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re compensation for pecuniary loss to relatives or dependents of deceased victim for attendance at court re criminal case of person charged with crime resulting in death of victim; P.A. 99-184 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that the one-hundred-dollar deductible shall be at the discretion of the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner; P.A. 00-200 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re compensation for pecuniary loss to spouse or dependents of deceased victim in the form of zero to one per cent loans; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to "general assistance".