HBA-JLV S.B. 1202 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1202
By: Zaffirini
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/26/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law limits the aggregate amount of awards to $50,000 that a victim
of crime may receive for pecuniary losses because of injury or death. It
also limits the additional amount to $50,000 that the attorney general is
authorized to award for extraordinary pecuniary losses if the personal
injury is catastrophic and results in total and permanent disability to the
victim. Many Texans would like to see an increase in the current
limitations of compensation paid to victims of crime due to increased
losses incurred by victims of crime and an increased amount of money
remaining in the compensation to victims of crime fund. Senate Bill 2085
increases the limit to $100,000 on compensation paid by the state to
certain victims of crime and authorizes the attorney general to increase
the limit on compensation paid by the state to certain victims of crime for
extraordinary pecuniary losses. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 2085 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase, from
$50,000 to $100,000,  the limit on compensation paid by the state to
certain victims of crime for pecuniary loss because of injury or death. The
bill authorizes the attorney general, in addition to an amount of $100,000
compensation paid by the state to certain victims of crime, to increase the
compensation paid by the state to certain victims of crime, from $50,000 to
$75,000, for extraordinary pecuniary losses, for lost wages and reasonable
and necessary costs for services related to a total and permanent
disability. The bill adds durable medical equipment, rehabilitation
technology, and long-term medical expenses incurred as a result of
medically indicated treatment for the personal injury to the list of things
for which a person may be awarded compensation. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.