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.