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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 54
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.233
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.123
- Substituted for A9898
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.684
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the eligibility of certain family members of homicide victims
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michelle Schimel
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6848
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the eligibility of certain family members of homicide victims
Purpose of bill
This bill would correct an inconsistency in Article 22 of the Executive Law with respect to which relatives of homicide victims are eligible to receive awards from the Office of Victim Services ("OVS") for counseling expenses.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill would amend Executive Law § 624(1)(b) to include guardians, siblings and step-siblings of a victim who died as a direct result of a crime among those eligible to receive an award from the OVS.
Section 2 of this bill contains the effective date.
Existing law
Executive Law § 626(1) provides that the cost of counseling for an eligible spouse, grandparent, parent, stepparent, guardian, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, child or stepchild of a homicide victim is considered an "out-of-pocket" loss for which such relative may receive an award from OVS. However, Executive Law § 624(1) (b), which generally lists persons who are "eligible" for "awards" from OVS does not include guardians, siblings and step-siblings.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Statement in support
Article 22 is internally inconsistent with respect to which relatives of a homicide victim are generally "eligible" for awards from OVS, and which relatives may receive an award for counseling expenses. Chapter 324 of the Laws of 1989 provided that guardians, brothers and sisters (later expanded to include step-siblings) were eligible to receive reimbursement for counseling expenses, but neglected to amend the statutory list of those persons generally eligible to receive an award.
Despite the inconsistency, OVS (and its predecessor, the Crime Victims Board) have interpreted Article 22 of the Executive Law consistent with the general intent of that Article to compensate crime victims, thereby making awards for counseling expenses to all family members of homicide victims listed in Executive Law § 626(1). This bill would correct the inconsistency in these provisions to make it clear that guardians, brothers, sisters and step-siblings are eligible to receive such awards.
Budget implications
This measure would not have any budgetary impact.
Effective date
The bill would become effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.