03/12/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 414                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act relating to the crime victim compensation fund.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JANE  PIERSON, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  JAY RAMRAS,  explained                                                                   
that  HB  414 relates  to  the  Violent  Crimes  Compensation                                                                   
Board,  established under  statute in  1972 to help  mitigate                                                                   
damages  and  financial  hardships  suffered  by  victims  of                                                                   
violent  crime.  The  Board provides  compensation  to  cover                                                                   
reasonable  costs such  as medical  and counseling  expenses,                                                                   
lost  income,  and  relocation  costs. Most  of  the  Board's                                                                   
funding comes from Permanent Fund  Dividend (PFD) monies that                                                                   
are   made  available   through   ineligibility  of   certain                                                                   
criminals. Every  year the  Board generates revenues  through                                                                   
provider refunds,  inmate salaries, restitution  payments and                                                                   
other payments.  The revenue  is deposited  into the  General                                                                   
Fund.  Between   1996  and   2006,  these  revenues   totaled                                                                   
$570,000. Some of  the funds were appropriated  back into the                                                                   
Board in years when the PFD and  federal grant monies did not                                                                   
cover expenditures (Statement on File).                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pierson pointed  out that  HB  414 would  create a  non-                                                                   
general fund  program definition  for the Board,  which would                                                                   
generate more federal funds.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:35:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze spoke to the dedication of the Board.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN  BROWNE,  ADMINISTRATOR,  VIOLENT  CRIMES  COMPENSATION                                                                   
BOARD   (Testified   via   teleconference),   explained   the                                                                   
functions of the Board. She has  personally viewed and worked                                                                   
many thousands of cases.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly asked for  clarification regarding  the                                                                   
fund.  Ms. Browne  thought  the  account could  become  self-                                                                   
sustaining.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:39:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer referred to the zero fiscal note.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker stated for  the record his  discomfort                                                                   
with designated funds. Representative  Kelly agreed. Co-Chair                                                                   
Meyer  acknowledged the  designated fund  status but  thought                                                                   
the cause worthy.  Representative Gara thought  the Board was                                                                   
different  than   other  dedicated   funds  since   they  are                                                                   
statutorily  mandated  to  pay  compensation  to  victims  of                                                                   
violent crimes.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:43:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  MOVED to report  HB 414 out  of Committee                                                                   
with  individual recommendations  and  with the  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB  414  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation and  with attached zero fiscal note  #1 by the                                                                   
Department of Administration.