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 compensation eligibility, unless proven otherwise.
Why it matters
Expands compensation eligibility. for families of crime victims who die by suicide within two years of the crime, recognizing that trauma from the crime may have contributed to the suicide, unless clear evidence shows otherwise.
Shifts the burden of proof. to the state to show the suicide was unrelated to the crime, rather than requiring grieving families to prove a direct link, making it easier for them to qualify for compensation.
Removes barriers based on victim responsibility. for their own injury in these cases, preventing denials of claims on the grounds that the victim’s suicide was a form of self-harm unrelated to the crime.
Acknowledges the long-term psychological impact. of crime on victims, sending a message that the justice system recognizes mental health consequences as a serious and direct result of criminal acts.
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Who cares
Families of crime victims who die by suicide
The bill would deem a victim’s suicide within two years of the crime a direct result of that crime for award purposes, unless the office determines it was not in any way related to the victimization.
Office of Victim Services
The office would have to apply the new rule and disregard the victim’s responsibility for their own injury in those suicide cases, subject to the same exception.
Crime victim advocates
The bill would change award eligibility rules for cases involving suicide within two years of a crime, affecting how advocates help survivors pursue claims.
Headline styles
Expand Crime Victim Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- 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.
Expand Crime Victim Benefits
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
993
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to eligibility for awards for victims of a crime
Purpose of the bill
To allow the families of victims of crimes who subsequently commit suicide to receive monetary awards from the Office of Victim Services
(OVS).
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends Executive Law § 624, subdivision 1 by correcting a grammatical error.
Section 2 amends Executive Law § 624 by adding a new subdivision 3 which states that a victim of a crime who commits suicide within two years of such crime shall be deemed to have died as a direct result of such crime, unless OVS determines that the suicide was unrelated to the crime.
Section 3 amends subdivision 5 of Executive Law § 631 by adding a new paragraph (h) stating the OVS shall disregard the victim's responsibil- ity for his or her own actions where the record shows that the victim committed suicide within two years of the crime.
Section 4 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Under current law, the Office of Victim Services (OVS) can provide compensation to victims of crimes after an evaluation by the agency. This compensation includes lost earnings, rehabilitation services, coun- seling services, property damage, burial services, medical expenses and other related services not covered by other insurance or benefit programs, and more. But under current law, OVS is required to reject or reduce claims in cases where the victim caused injury to him or herself. This means that family members of victims who commit suicide after being the victim of a crime are no longer eligible to receive the funds. This is an unfair statute that this legislation seeks to correct.
Prior legislative history
2023-24: A.5534/S.8180: Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
2021-22: A.52391/S.6333-A
2019-20: A.6845/S.5878
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Office of Victim Services would likely pay out a small number of addi- tional awards to the families of suicide victims. This may be several
thousand dollars per victim. The awards are partially funded through the federal Department of Justice.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.