HCS SCS SB 338 -- CRIME VICTIMS

SPONSOR:  Rupp (Lipke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Crime Prevention by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding crime victims.  In its
main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires a photograph to be taken of an incarcerated
individual prior to release and made available to the victim upon
his or her request;

(2)  Transfers the administration of the Crime Victims'
Compensation Fund from the Division of Workers' Compensation
within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the
Department of Public Safety;

(3)  Requires the Department of Public Safety to ensure that
compensation paid to victims is reasonable and consistent with
state law and any medical expense claims are for expenses that
are medically necessary;

(4)  Allows a victim to be represented by counsel or a
representative designated by the victim instead of appearing in
person during an offender's parole and probation revocation
hearing; and

(5)  Specifies that, subject to appropriations, the State Highway
Patrol must develop and make available to appropriate medical
providers evidentiary collection kits.  The kits will be used by
the provider to perform forensic examinations for the purpose of
gathering evidence of a sexual offense.  The Department of Public
Safety must make payments to the providers to cover the charges
of the forensic examination if the victim or the victim's
guardian consents in writing to the examination and the report of
the examination is made on a form approved by the Attorney
General with the advice of the department.  The payments may be
made from money appropriated to the department or the Crime
Victims' Compensation Fund if the victim is an eligible claimant.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill transfers the Crime
Victims' Compensation Fund from the Division of Workers'
Compensation to the Department of Public Safety and ensures that
medical providers are not charging too much to complete
evidentiary collection rape kits.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Rupp; Department of Public
Safety; and Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am