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HB 5974

AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Alzate and 9 co-sponsors

Expands RI Crime Victim Compensation to cover hit-and-run failures to stop that cause serious bodily injury or death, enabling victims to claim awards.

05/22/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 5974

Bill Summary — HB 5974: Criminal Injuries Compensation (Rhode Island)

Status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (05/22/2025)
Introduced: February 28, 2025 (sponsors: Reps. Voas, Giraldo, Stewart, Morales, Alzate, Casimiro, Speakman, Casey, Potter, McGaw)
Chapter/Section amended: R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 12‑25, § 12‑25‑20
Effective date: Upon passage

Purpose / Intent

The bill expands the list of criminal offenses that may give rise to an award under Rhode Island’s Crime Victim Compensation program to explicitly include certain hit‑and‑run incidents. Its stated purpose is to permit victims who suffer serious bodily injury (or death) as a result of a driver’s failure to stop to be eligible for compensation through the program.

Key provisions

  • Amends § 12‑25‑20 (Offenses to which the chapter applies) to add:
    • “Failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in the serious bodily injury or the death of any person, pursuant to § 31‑26‑1.”
  • Confirms that the Office (General Treasurer’s office / crime victim compensation office) may award compensation for personal injury or death resulting from offenses listed in § 12‑25‑20, now including qualifying hit‑and‑run incidents.
  • States the act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: victims (or their families) of motor vehicle hit‑and‑run incidents in which the driver’s failure to stop results in serious bodily injury or death — these victims would become explicitly eligible to apply for Crime Victim Compensation.
  • Administering agency: the state office that processes criminal injury compensation claims (operational effect on staff, claims processing).
  • Potentially insurers and local law enforcement indirectly, insofar as compensation claims and investigations interact.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced 02/28/2025 and referred to House Finance.
  • As of 05/22/2025, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study (i.e., no enactment yet).
  • If enacted, the amendment would be effective immediately (upon passage).

Potential impact / considerations

  • Practical effect: fills a gap by explicitly covering hit‑and‑run victims in serious injury/death cases under the state’s victim compensation statute.
  • Fiscal impact: not specified in the bill text. Expanding eligibility may increase the number of claims and program payouts; any budgetary effects would depend on claim volume and existing program funding.
  • Legal/administrative: agencies administering compensation will need to apply the statutory criteria to hit‑and‑run incidents (e.g., establishing causation, meeting definitions of “serious bodily injury,” and any existing eligibility conditions such as cooperation with law enforcement).

Note: The materials provided also included text for a different HB 5974 (a Michigan bill on prescribed pediatric extended care centers). This summary focuses exclusively on the Rhode Island HB 5974 titled “AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION,” consistent with the bill title and the LC001702 text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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