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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A6899
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1005
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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 eligibility and awards to certain family members for crime scene clean-up
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Edward Hennessey
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4345
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to eligibility of and awards to certain family members for crime scene clean-up
Purpose Of Bill: This bill would amend the Executive Law to authorize the Office of Victim Services (OVS) to make awards for crime scene clean-up to certain family members who resided with a homicide victim.
Summary of Provisions:
Section one of the bill would add a new paragraph (k) to Executive Law § 624(1) to make a surviving spouse, child or stepchild of a homicide victim eligible for an award for crime scene clean-up, when he or she shared a residence with the victim.
Section two of the bill would add a new subdivision eighteen to Executive Law § 631 to authorize an award for crime scene clean-up to those family members of a homicide victim made eligible in section one of the bill.
Section three of the bill contains the effective date.
Existing Law: Currently, Executive Law § 631(2) limits an OVS award to an amount not exceeding "out-of-pocket" expenses. Executive Law 626(1), which defines "out-of-pocket" expenses, limits an award for family members of a homicide victim to reimbursement for the costs of counseling. It does not authorize OVS to make an award to a surviving household member of the homicide victim.
Prior Legislative History: This is a new bill.
Statement in Support: OVS may only make an award for crime scene clean-up to a surviving victim of a crime. This person is eligible for such an award, in part, to begin the emotional healing process related to what may be the most traumatic event in his or her life.
In the instance of a homicide, however, there is no similar provision which would allow OVS to make such an award to the victim's family who lived in the same residence. While current law permits OVS to provide counseling to these family members, it does not permit OVS to make an award to the same persons for crime scene clean-up. An OVS award for counseling to these family members is crucial in their emotional healing. OVS' assistance with cleaning-up any reminders of such crime is also an important component in such healing.
Budget Implications: This measure will have minimal fiscal impact for the OVS. Any potential increase in compensation costs would be offset by an increase in the federal reimbursement for victim compensation.
Effective Date: This bill would take effect 30 days after it becomes a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.