Under the emergency fund for victims, increases the share of a victim’s total award that may be used for relocation related expenses but not increase total compensation available to a victim.

Plain-English Summary

This bill makes a change to Rhode Island's emergency fund for crime victims — a program that provides financial assistance to people who have been harmed by a crime. Currently, the law limits how much of a victim's total compensation award can be used specifically for relocation expenses, such as moving costs if a victim needs to leave their home for safety reasons. This bill would raise that limit, allowing victims to use a larger portion of their awarded funds for relocation-related costs.

Importantly, the bill does not increase the overall maximum amount of money a victim can receive. The total compensation available stays the same — this change simply gives victims more flexibility in how they can use their existing award. In other words, if a victim's safety requires them to move, they would have more financial room within their award to cover those moving-related expenses without being as restricted by the current cap.

This bill primarily affects crime victims in Rhode Island who apply to the state's criminal injuries compensation program and have a need to relocate as a result of the crime committed against them. It could be particularly relevant for victims of domestic violence, stalking, or other situations where moving away is necessary for personal safety. The bill is currently assigned to the House Finance Committee for review.