03/10/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 266                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to emergency compensation from the                                                                        
     Violent Crimes Compensation Board."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:13:43 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas, sponsor, read the sponsor statement:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Senate  Bill 266  proposes to  increase the  limit that                                                                    
     victims  of violent  crimes  can  receive in  emergency                                                                    
     compensation from $1,500 to $3,500.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     This  limit for  emergency  compensation  has not  been                                                                    
     increased since  1975. Emergency compensation  can only                                                                    
     be awarded  for relocation,  verifiable lost  wages and                                                                    
     counseling for  families and  victims whose  safety and                                                                    
     well being are at risk.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     The  reason for  this increase  is that  the costs  for                                                                    
     these emergency  expenses have  increased substantially                                                                    
     over the years,  and $1,500 is not  sufficient to cover                                                                    
     deposits, first  and last month rents,  especially when                                                                    
     a  family  or  dependents   are  involved,  travel  for                                                                    
     relocation and other associated expenses.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Emergency awards are necessary  as the Board only meets                                                                    
     five times per year, and it  may be 2-3 months before a                                                                    
     claim is considered.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     The  victim  compensation fund  receives  approximately                                                                    
     70% of  its appropriations from  the state in  the form                                                                    
     of felon's  withheld Permanent  Fund Dividends  and 30%                                                                    
     from a  federal grant. This  money does not  lapse once                                                                    
     placed in the fund.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Emergency  compensation  is   considered  part  of  the                                                                    
     maximum  award and  is deducted  from  the final  award                                                                    
     given to  the victim, any  excess award must  be repaid                                                                    
     to the fund.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     This bill does not increase  the overall cap of $40,000                                                                    
     that can awarded  to a victim. Senate  Bill 266 carries                                                                    
     a zero  fiscal note  because it  does not  increase the                                                                    
     final award.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     I urge you to join  me in assisting Alaska's victims of                                                                    
     violent  crimes  when  their   need  is  greatest,  and                                                                    
     support Senate Bill 266.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     I  have   attached  a  sheet  titled   "Violent  Crimes                                                                    
     Compensation   Board:  Emergency   Compensation"  which                                                                    
     contains some  facts and figures and  amounts of awards                                                                    
     as well  as some  of the details  of those  awards, and                                                                    
     several   other   documents    explaining   facts   and                                                                    
     demographics of violent crimes victims.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     My   staff,    Grier   Hopkins,   and    Kate   Hudson,                                                                    
     administrator  for  the   Violent  Crimes  Compensation                                                                    
     Board   are  available   for  questions.   Also,  Jared                                                                    
     Godfrey, Chair of the Board, is  on the phone to make a                                                                    
     short statement and answer any questions.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   noted  one  zero  fiscal   note  by  the                                                                    
Department of Administration.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:16:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GERALD  GODFREY, CHAIR,  VIOLENT  CRIMES COMPENSATION  BOARD                                                                    
(VCCB), testified  via teleconference. He spoke  in favor of                                                                    
the bill.  He related  the history of  the cap.  The initial                                                                    
amount when  the board was created  in 1972 was at  $500. In                                                                    
1975  it was  adjusted upward  to  $1,500 and  has not  been                                                                    
adjusted since. If adjusted for  inflation, the amount would                                                                    
be over $6,000 now.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Godfrey  shared statistics about the  hardships suffered                                                                    
by victims of  violent crimes. He gave an  example of awards                                                                    
given for lost wages,  counseling, and relocation. He shared                                                                    
an example of a domestic violence victim.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:20:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KATE  HUDSON,  ADMINISTRATOR,  VIOLENT  CRIMES  COMPENSATION                                                                    
BOARD, stated support for the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:21:15 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  asked how  often the  fund has  been depleted                                                                    
due  to  the increased  number  of  violent crimes  or  from                                                                    
inflation. Ms. Hudson said the board  has not yet run out of                                                                    
money. Senator  Olson asked if  money would be short  if the                                                                    
cap is increased. Ms. Hudson said  it would not be a concern                                                                    
because the cap is not being increased.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:22:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 266 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                              
consideration.