BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 1140 (Bonta) - California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: August 18, 2015 |Policy Vote: PUB. S. 7 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- *********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE *********** The following information is revised to reflect amendments adopted by the committee on August 27, 2015 Bill Summary: AB 1140 would revise numerous provisions of law governing the California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP), as specified. Fiscal Impact: CalVCP benefits : Significant increase in CalVCP payments potentially in excess of $800,000 (Special Fund*) annually due to expanded and revised eligibility criteria, most significantly due to the changes in eligibility criteria related to lack of cooperation with law enforcement. CalVCP administration : One-time costs to the Board for resource needs potentially in excess of $150,000 (Special Fund*) for programming changes necessary to the automated claims processing system. Ongoing increased administrative AB 1140 (Bonta) Page 1 of ? workload for claims processing of increased applications. Federal fund impact : Potential future increases in annual federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds of 60 percent reimbursement for state funds used to compensate victims to the extent the annual cap on VOCA fund obligations is adequately raised or removed. Additionally, VOCA grant awards are based on state expenditures from prior years, so any potential increases to the VOCA grant award would not be received until 2018-19 at the earliest. *Restitution Fund Author Amendments: Make the following changes: Specify the Board shall not require an applicant to submit documentation from the Internal Revenue Service, the Franchise Tax Board, the State Board of Equalization, the Social Security Administration, or the Employment Development Department to determine eligibility for compensation. Specify the Board may require and use documentation from these entities to verify the amount of compensation for income or support loss. Require the initial application materials sent by the Board to an applicant to be written in various specified languages. If the applicant selects one of the languages listed, requires the Board to send all subsequent communications in that language. Specify the Board shall not create or comply with a regulation or policy that mandates a lower maximum potential amount of an award of less than $7,500 for funeral and burial expenses. Require the Board to allow a service animal to accompany and support a witness while testifying. AB 1140 (Bonta) Page 2 of ? Provide that a victim at a restitution or modification hearing may testify by live, two-way audio and video transmission if available at the court. Delete the increase in the daily compensation rate for wrongful convictions and make other technical changes. Add Senators Hancock and Nielsen as principal coauthors. -- END --