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Bill

S 3124

Relates to the testing of newborns for spinal muscular atrophy and public education thereon

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Ortt

Creates a permanent Mass Violence Care Fund to pay eligible physical and behavioral health expenses for mass violence victims, funded with a $10 million seed and governed by rules

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3124

Summary — S.3124 (Introduced Version)

Note on discrepancy: the bill header provided lists a title about newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy, but the introduced text of S.3124 creates a “Mass Violence Care Fund.” This summary describes the bill text as provided (Mass Violence Care Fund).

Purpose

Establishes a permanent, state-administered Mass Violence Care Fund to provide a sustainable source of payments for physical and behavioral health care expenses of victims of mass violence events that are not covered by insurance or other public/private sources. Seeds the fund with a $10,000,000 appropriation.

Key provisions

  • Creates the "Mass Violence Care Fund" in the Department of Law and Public Safety, administered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office.
  • Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the new fund.
  • Fund is nonlapsing; principal is to be invested by the Division of Investment. Only investment earnings, gains, dividends, and gifts may be expended (principal preserved).
  • Administrative costs of the fund (including Victims of Crime Compensation Office expenses) are paid from the fund.
  • Distributions may be made only for eligible victims’ eligible expenses, subject to rules established by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office; no distributions may be made before adoption of those rules.
  • Payments from the fund may not be made sooner than three years after the applicable mass violence event.
  • Payments cannot duplicate reimbursement from other sources (e.g., Medicaid, private insurance).

Definitions (selected)

  • “Mass violence event”: intentional violent crime producing significant physical, emotional, or psychological injury to many individuals and increasing burden on victim support systems.
  • “Victim”: persons killed (family/household members), physically injured, or physically present and witness to a mass violence event. Excludes individuals engaged in criminal activity at the time.
  • “Eligible expenses”: medical and medically related costs; psychological/mental health counseling; lost wages; funeral/burial/homicide-related and travel expenses; loss of income for relatives or caregivers; costs for eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetics damaged or lost during the event.

Administration, eligibility workgroup, and timeline

  • Requires the Attorney General to convene a Mass Violence Care Fund Working Group to propose eligibility criteria, investment options, and other operational guidance.
  • Working group membership: a state senator and assembly member (co-chairs), Attorney General (or designee), Commissioner of Health (or designee), State Treasurer (or designee), Director of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (or designee), and a VTV Family Outreach Foundation representative.
  • Appointments to the working group due within 30 days of the act’s effective date. The working group must report recommendations to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office within nine months.
  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: victims of mass violence (injured individuals, witnesses, and families of those killed) who have health care and behavioral health care costs not covered by insurance or other sources.
  • Excluded: individuals engaged in criminal activity at the time of the event, and any expenses otherwise payable by public or private programs.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Provides a dedicated, permanent funding mechanism aimed at long‑term care and recovery needs after mass violence incidents.
  • Because only investment earnings and gifts are expendable and distributions are restricted until at least three years after an event, the fund is designed for sustainable, longer‑term support rather than immediate emergency payouts.
  • The initial $10 million seed could generate ongoing assistance but scale of benefit will depend on investment returns, additional appropriations or gifts, and eligibility rules adopted following the working group’s recommendations.

Legislative status and sponsors

  • Sponsors (as listed): Tommy Tuberville (primary), Bill Cassidy (cosponsor), Robert Ortt (primary).
  • Status notes: Introduced and referred to committees (records show referrals to Health and to Law and Public Safety committees). Effective date provision: immediate upon enactment.

Related/companion measures noted: A4409 (companion), and several prior-session bills (e.g., S7048, S3355).

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

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