2006 Kansas Code - 74-7305

      74-7305.   Claims for compensation; application; conditions; limitations; amount. (a) An application for compensation shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the board.

      (b)   Compensation may not be awarded unless an application has been filed with the board within two years of the reporting of the incident to law enforcement officials if the victim was less than 16 years of age and the injury or death is the result of any of the following crimes: (1) Indecent liberties with a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3503 and amendments thereto; (2) aggravated indecent liberties with a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3504 and amendments thereto; (3) aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in K.S.A. 21-3506 and amendments thereto; (4) enticement of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3509 and amendments thereto; (5) indecent solicitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3510 and amendments thereto; (6) aggravated indecent solicitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3511 and amendments thereto; (7) sexual exploitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3516 and amendments thereto; or (8) aggravated incest as defined in K.S.A. 21-3603 and amendments thereto. Compensation for mental health counseling may be awarded, if a claim is filed within two years of testimony, to a claimant who is, or will be, required to testify in a sexually violent predator commitment, pursuant to article 29a of chapter 59 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, of an offender who victimized the claimant or the victim on whose behalf the claim is made. For all other incidents of criminally injurious conduct, compensation may not be awarded unless the claim has been filed with the board within two years after the injury or death upon which the claim is based, unless, with respect to a claim for compensation that arises out of a violent crime that was committed outside the United States against a person whose domicile is in Kansas: (1) The violent crime caused death; (2) the violent crime that caused the death was committed after January 1, 2001; and (3) the claimant makes a claim for compensation within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Compensation may not be awarded to a claimant who was the offender or an accomplice of the offender and may not be awarded to another person if the award would unjustly benefit the offender or accomplice.

      (c)   Compensation otherwise payable to a claimant shall be diminished:

      (1)   To the extent, if any, that the economic loss upon which the claimant's claim is based is recouped from other persons, including collateral sources; and

      (2)   to the extent, if any, that the board deems reasonable because of the contributory misconduct of the claimant or of a victim through whom the claimant claims.

      (d)   Compensation may be awarded only if the board finds that unless the claimant is awarded compensation the claimant will suffer financial stress as the result of economic loss otherwise reparable. A claimant suffers financial stress only if the claimant cannot maintain the claimant's customary level of health, safety and education for self and dependents without undue financial hardship. In making its determination of financial stress, the board shall consider all relevant factors, including:

      (1)   The number of claimant's dependents;

      (2)   the usual living expenses of the claimant and the claimant's family;

      (3)   the special needs of the claimant and the claimant's dependents;

      (4)   the claimant's income and potential earning capacity; and

      (5)   the claimant's resources.

      (e)   Compensation may not be awarded unless the criminally injurious conduct resulting in injury or death was reported to a law enforcement officer within 72 hours after its occurrence or the board finds there was good cause for the failure to report within that time.

      (f)   The board, upon finding that the claimant or victim has not fully cooperated with appropriate law enforcement agencies, may deny, withdraw or reduce an award of compensation.

      (g)   Except in K.S.A. 21-3602 or 21-3603 or cases of sex offenses established in article 35 of chapter 21, of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, compensation may not be awarded if the economic loss is less than $100.

      (h)   Compensation for work loss, replacement services loss, dependent's economic loss and dependent's replacement service loss may not exceed $400 per week or actual loss, whichever is less.

      (i)   Compensation payable to a victim and to all other claimants sustaining economic loss because of injury to or death of that victim may not exceed $25,000 in the aggregate.

      History:   L. 1978, ch. 130, § 5; L. 1982, ch. 329, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 239, § 13; L. 1990, ch. 321, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 90, § 5; L. 1993, ch. 166, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 243, § 3; L. 1998, ch. 51, § 2; L. 2004, ch. 98, § 2; July 1.