HB1867: Victims of crime; compensation, reporting requirement.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1867

Offered January 13, 2021
Prefiled January 8, 2021
A BILL to amend and reenact § 19.2-368.10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to compensating victims of crime; reporting requirement; sexual abuse.
Patrons-- Delaney, Bell and Coyner

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 19.2-368.10 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 19.2-368.10. When awards to be made; reporting crime and cooperation with law enforcement.

No award shall be made unless the Commission finds that:

1. A crime was committed;

2. Such crime directly resulted in an individual becoming a victim as defined in § 19.2-368.2, on whose behalf a claim is filed; and

3. Police records show that such crime was promptly reported to the proper authorities. In no case may an award be made where the police records show that such report was made more than 120 hours after the occurrence of such crime, unless the Commission, for good cause shown, finds the delay to have been justified. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to claims of sexual abuse that occurred while the victim was a minor.

The Commission, upon finding that any claimant or award recipient has not fully cooperated with all law-enforcement agencies, may deny, reduce or withdraw any award, as the case may be.