Bill Text: NJ S3896 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Requires training or experience in crime victims' rights for certain members of Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-13 - Substituted by A5389 (1R) [S3896 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3896-Amended.html

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3896

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 2019

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires training or experience in crime victims' rights for certain members of Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on December 9, 2019, with amendments.

  


An Act concerning compensation for victims of crime and amending P.L.2007, c.95.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.95 (C.52:4B-3.2) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    a.     There is hereby established in the Department of 1[the Treasury] Law and Public Safety1 the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1.

     b.    The chief executive officer of the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 shall be the 1[executive]1 director, who shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The 1[executive]1 director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  The Governor may appoint an acting 1[executive]1 director to serve as chief executive officer of the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1, who may be the person serving as chairman of the Victims of Crime Compensation Board on the effective date of P.L.2007, c.95 (C.52:4B-3.2 et al.), and who shall serve as the 1[executive]1 director of the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 until 1[his] a1 successor is appointed and qualifies. The 1[executive]1 director shall, in consultation with the Review Board established pursuant to subsection c. of this section, develop, establish and supervise all practices and procedures of the 1[agency] office1.

     c.     There is hereby established in the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 the Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board which shall be composed of five citizens, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated chairman by, and serve as such at the pleasure of, the Governor. 1[Four] Three1 members of the board shall, by training or experience, have expertise in the rights of crime victims.  1[At least] One member of the board shall have direct knowledge or experience related to the trauma of criminal victimization and1 one member 1[of the board]1 shall be an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the State of New Jersey and who shall have practiced law in the courts of New Jersey for a minimum of five years. The purpose of the Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board shall be:

     (1)   to hear appeals of decisions of the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 involving issues of victim compensation;

     (2)   to consult with the 1[executive]1 director in developing, establishing and supervising all practices and procedures of the 1[agency] office1;

     (3)   to review individual and supplemental awards to a victim or a victim's family in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate, and awards of attorney fees for legal representation to victims;

     (4)   to review, on at least a bi-monthly basis, information detailing the aggregate claims received and paid by the 1[agency] office1, and the operations of the 1[agency] office1; and

     (5)   to review and, if appropriate, approve any rules and regulations, standards, and maximum rates and service limitations for reimbursement proposed by the 1[agency] office1.

     d.    All the functions of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board and the Victims of Crime Compensation Board are continued in the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 and the Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board. Whenever in any law, rule, regulation, judicial or administrative procedure or otherwise, reference is made to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board or to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board, the same shall mean and refer to the Victims of Crime Compensation 1[Agency] Office1 or the Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board, as the case may be.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.95, s.2)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately. 

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