What's happening
This bill allows crime victims who die by suicide within two years of the crime to be considered as having died as a direct result of the crime for award eligibility, unless determined otherwise.
Why it matters
Provides expanded support for families of crime victims who die by suicide. By presuming that suicides within two years of the crime are directly related to the crime, more families may become eligible for compensation and related benefits, easing financial and emotional burdens.
Acknowledges the complex impact of trauma resulting from crime. The bill reflects a growing understanding that psychological harm and delayed trauma responses, such as suicide, can be direct consequences of victimization—not just immediate physical injuries.
Shifts burden of proof away from victims’ families. The default assumption now favors the victim’s family, unless the office can show the suicide was unrelated to the crime, making it less likely that families will be denied awards due to the often difficult task of proving direct causation.
May encourage more comprehensive investigations and support services. By tying eligibility to mental health outcomes, the bill could incentivize better documentation of psychological trauma and promote integrated victim support services, including mental health care.
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Who cares
Families of crime victims who die by suicide
The bill would deem a suicide within two years after a crime a death directly resulting from that crime for award eligibility, unless the office determines the suicide was not in any way related to the victimization.
Office of Victim Services
The office would have to apply the new presumption and disregard the victim’s responsibility for their own injury in qualifying suicide cases.
- Likely support
Crime victim advocates and compensation claim representatives
The bill would change how they could support claims involving victims who die by suicide within two years after a crime.
Headline styles
Expand Crime Victim Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
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.
Expand Crime Victim Benefits
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Robert Rolison
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
363
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to eligibility for awards for victims of a crime
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (i) and (j) of subdivision 1 of section 624 of the executive law, paragraph (i) as amended by section 9 of part A-1 of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010 and paragraph (j) as amended by chapter 427 of the laws of 1999, are amended to read as follows:
(i) a surviving spouse of a crime victim who died from causes not directly related to the crime when such victim died prior to filing a claim with the office or subsequent to filing a claim but prior to the rendering of a decision by the office. Such award shall be limited to out-of-pocket loss incurred as a direct result of the crime; [and]
(j) a spouse, child or stepchild of a victim of a crime who has sustained personal physical injury as a direct result of a crime[.]; and
§ 2. Section 624 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. For the purposes of this article, a victim of a crime who commits suicide within two years after such crime shall be deemed to have died as a direct result of such crime, unless the office determines that the suicide was not in any way a result of being the victim of such crime.
§ 3. Subdivision 5 of section 631 of the executive law is amended by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
(h) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article, the office shall disregard the responsibility of the victim for the victim's own injury where the record shows that the victim committed suicide within two years after such crime, unless the office determines that the suicide was not in any way a result of being the victim of such crime.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00300-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.