ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 1707

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 16, 2023

      The Assembly Homeland Security And State Preparedness Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1707.

      As reported by the committee, the Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1707 amends the “Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971,” P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.). The bill establishes a presumption that the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) will order payment of compensation to an eligible victim of crime. 

      Under current law, the VCCO may order that a payment of compensation be made:

      1)   to or on behalf of the victim of the crime;

      2)   to a person responsible for the victim of crime who has suffered pecuniary loss or incurred expenses in caring for the victim; and

      3)   in cases of the victim’s death, to the victim’s dependents.

      In determining whether to order compensation, the VCCO is authorized to consider any relevant circumstances, including provocation, consent, or the victim’s behavior which directly or indirectly contributed to the victim’s injury or death; the victim’s prior case history; and other relevant matters.  This bill establishes that in considering these circumstances, there is to be a presumption that the VCCO will order payment of compensation. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2021-2022 session pending technical review.  As reported, this bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.