Delaware Senate Bill 144 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Introduced on June 4 2009 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2009-06-04 - Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
Pending: Senate Executive Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Draft #1) [HTML]

This bill is a result of recommendations made by the Joint Sunset Committee. This bill: Changes the name of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board to the Victim's Compensation Assistance Program; Transfers the duties, responsibilities and employees of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board from the Administrative Office of the Courts to the Department of Justice. This will provide the residents of Delaware with statewide access to victims services; Allows the Executive Director and investigative staff to award benefit compensation thus streamlining the decision making process for claims; Reconsideration stage at the paper level to allow staff/Executive Director to reconsider new information for a claim without the need for the victim to appear before the Appeals Board; Changes the current Board to an Appeals Board. The current Board members will serve out their existing term and continue to receive statutory compensation. Upon expiration of term, compensation will be $100 per day; Provides that the Appeals Board shall include members from all 3 counties and the City of Wilmington; Provides that members of the Appeals Board shall be confirmed by the Senate; Establishes an Advisory Council that includes individuals from state government, advocacy groups, victim related task forces, medical, mental health, law enforcement fields and members of the public to be appointed by the Governor and Provides the following enactment dates: The Violent Crimes Compensation Board will be placed within the Department of Justice on July 1, 2009. The Advisory Council shall be established on July 1, 2009 and allow for the appointment of the 11 Advisory Council members by the Governor. The effective date for new process and procedures under the Victim's Compensation Assistance Program shall be 30 days after enactment of the bill. The effective date for all new and pending claims to be processed through the newly established Victim's Compensation Assistance Program shall be 30 days after enactment of the bill.

An Act To Amend Title 11 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Compensation For Innocent Victims Of Crime.

Rep. John Atkins [D]	Rep. Edward Bennett [D]	Sen. Colin Bonini [R]	Sen. Brian Bushweller [D]
Sen. Dorinda Connor [R]	Sen. Michael Katz [D]	Rep. John Kowalko [D]	Rep. Clifford Lee [R]
Sen. David Sokola [D]	Rep. Pamela Thornburg [R]

Date	Chamber	Action
2009-06-04		Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

Type	Source
Summary	http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/2bede841c6272c888025698400433a04/a0904c94db02721a852575c8006d9289?OpenDocument
Text	http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+144/$file/legis.html?open