A06493 Summary:

BILL NOA06493
 
SAME ASNo same as
 
SPONSORDiPietro
 
COSPNSRKolb
 
MLTSPNSROaks, Tenney
 
Amd SS80.00, 80.05 & 60.35, Pen L; add S94-c, St Fin L
 
Increases the mandatory surcharge and the crime victim's assistance fee which is levied upon any person convicted of a crime or violation in this state; creates a crime victim's lien which allows such recovery against a convicted offender in the amount of the unpaid portion of the mandatory surcharge or the crime victim's assistance fee; creates a crime victim's assistance account.
Go to top    

A06493 Actions:

BILL NOA06493
 
04/04/2013referred to codes
01/08/2014referred to codes
05/28/2014held for consideration in codes
Go to top

A06493 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
Go to top

A06493 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6493
 
                               2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      April 4, 2013
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. DIPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Codes
 
        AN  ACT to amend the penal law and the state finance law, in relation to
          increasing  the  crime  victim's  assistance  fee,  creating  a  crime
          victim's lien and creating a crime victim's assistance account
 

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Section 80.00 of the penal law is amended by adding  a  new
     2  subdivision 8 to read as follows:
     3    8.  The  term  "fine"  as  defined in this section shall not include a
     4  mandatory surcharge or a crime victim's assistance  fee  as  defined  in
     5  section 60.35 of this title.
     6    §  2. Section 80.05 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
     7  vision 7 to read as follows:
     8    7. The term "fine" as defined in this  section  shall  not  include  a
     9  mandatory  surcharge  or  a  crime victim's assistance fee as defined in
    10  section 60.35 of this title.
    11    § 3. Section 60.35 of the penal law, as amended by section 1 of part E

    12  of chapter 56 of the laws of 2004, subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii)  of
    13  paragraph  (a)  of  subdivision 1 as amended by section 1 of part DD and
    14  subdivision 10 as amended by section 2 of part Y of chapter  56  of  the
    15  laws  of 2008, paragraph b of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 320 of
    16  the laws of 2006, and subdivision 8 as amended by section 121 of subpart
    17  B of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is  amended  to  read  as
    18  follows:
    19  § 60.35 Mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank
    20            fee,  supplemental  sex  offender  victim fee and crime victim
    21            assistance fee required in certain cases.
    22    1. (a) Except as provided in section  eighteen  hundred  nine  of  the
    23  vehicle  and  traffic law and section 27.12 of the parks, recreation and
    24  historic preservation law, whenever  proceedings  in  an  administrative
 

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD03946-02-3

        A. 6493                             2
 
     1  tribunal or a court of this state result in a conviction for a felony, a
     2  misdemeanor, or a violation, as these terms are defined in section 10.00
     3  of  this  chapter,  there  shall  be  levied  at  sentencing a mandatory
     4  surcharge,  sex  offender registration fee, DNA databank fee and a crime
     5  victim assistance fee in addition to any sentence required or  permitted
     6  by law, in accordance with the following schedule:
     7    (i) a person convicted of a felony, excluding those felonies set forth
     8  in  clauses  (A)  and  (B)  of  this subparagraph, shall pay a mandatory

     9  surcharge of three hundred dollars and a crime victim assistance fee  of
    10  [twenty-five] five hundred dollars;
    11    (A)  A person convicted of a felony offense of homicide, as defined in
    12  section 125.00 of this chapter, shall pay a mandatory surcharge of  five
    13  hundred  dollars  and a crime victim assistance fee of two thousand five
    14  hundred dollars for every month of which such  person  is  sentenced  to
    15  serve  time  in  a correctional facility, as defined in section forty of
    16  the correction law;
    17    (B) A person convicted of a violent  felony  offense,  as  defined  in
    18  article  70.02  of  this chapter, shall pay a mandatory surcharge of two
    19  hundred fifty dollars and a crime victim assistance fee of one  thousand

    20  dollars  for every month of which such person is sentenced to serve time
    21  in  a  correctional  facility,  as  defined  in  section  forty  of  the
    22  correction law;
    23    (ii)  a  person  convicted  of  a  misdemeanor  shall  pay a mandatory
    24  surcharge of one hundred seventy-five dollars and a crime victim assist-
    25  ance fee of [twenty-five] two hundred fifty dollars;
    26    (iii) a  person  convicted  of  a  violation  shall  pay  a  mandatory
    27  surcharge  of  [ninety-five]  one  hundred  dollars  and  a crime victim
    28  assistance fee of twenty-five dollars;
    29    (iv) a person convicted of a sex offense as defined by subdivision two
    30  of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction law or a sexually
    31  violent offense as defined by subdivision three of section  one  hundred

    32  sixty-eight-a  of  the  correction law shall, in addition to a mandatory
    33  surcharge and crime victim assistance fee, pay a sex offender  registra-
    34  tion fee of fifty dollars.
    35    (v)  a person convicted of a designated offense as defined by subdivi-
    36  sion seven of section nine hundred  ninety-five  of  the  executive  law
    37  shall,  in addition to a mandatory surcharge and crime victim assistance
    38  fee, pay a DNA databank fee of fifty dollars.
    39    (b) When the felony or misdemeanor conviction  in  subparagraphs  (i),
    40  (ii)  or  (iv)  of  paragraph  (a)  of  this subdivision results from an
    41  offense contained in article one hundred thirty of this chapter,  incest
    42  in  the  third,  second  or  first degree as defined in sections 255.25,
    43  255.26 and 255.27 of this chapter or an offense contained in article two
    44  hundred sixty-three of this chapter, the person convicted  shall  pay  a

    45  supplemental sex offender victim fee of one thousand dollars in addition
    46  to the mandatory surcharge and any other fee.
    47    2.  Where  a  person  is convicted of two or more crimes or violations
    48  committed through a single act or omission, or through an act  or  omis-
    49  sion  which  in  itself  constituted one of the crimes or violations and
    50  also was a material element of the  other,  the  court  shall  impose  a
    51  mandatory  surcharge and a crime victim assistance fee, and where appro-
    52  priate a supplemental sex offender victim fee, in  accordance  with  the
    53  provisions  of this section for the crime or violation which carries the
    54  highest classification,  and  no  other  sentence  to  pay  a  mandatory
    55  surcharge,  crime  victim  assistance  fee  or supplemental sex offender
    56  victim fee required by this section shall be imposed. Where a person  is


        A. 6493                             3
 
     1  convicted  of  two or more sex offenses or sexually violent offenses, as
     2  defined by subdivisions two and three  of  section  one  hundred  sixty-
     3  eight-a  of  the correction law, committed through a single act or omis-
     4  sion,  or  through an act or omission which in itself constituted one of
     5  the offenses and also was a material element of  the  other,  the  court
     6  shall  impose  only one sex offender registration fee. Where a person is
     7  convicted of two or more designated offenses, as defined by  subdivision
     8  seven  of section nine hundred ninety-five of the executive law, commit-
     9  ted through a single act or omission, or  through  an  act  or  omission
    10  which  in itself constituted one of the offenses and also was a material
    11  element of the other, the court shall impose only one DNA databank fee.

    12    3. The mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee,  DNA  data-
    13  bank  fee[,  crime victim assistance fee,] and supplemental sex offender
    14  victim fee provided for in subdivision one of this section shall be paid
    15  to the clerk of the court or administrative tribunal that  rendered  the
    16  conviction.  Within the first ten days of the month following collection
    17  of the mandatory surcharge[, crime victim assistance fee,]  and  supple-
    18  mental sex offender victim fee, the collecting authority shall determine
    19  the  amount  of  mandatory  surcharge,  crime victim assistance fee, and
    20  supplemental sex offender victim fee collected and, if it is an adminis-
    21  trative tribunal, or a town or village justice court, it shall then  pay
    22  such  money to the state comptroller who shall deposit such money in the
    23  state treasury pursuant to section one hundred twenty-one of  the  state

    24  finance  law  to  the credit of the criminal justice improvement account
    25  established by section ninety-seven-bb of the state finance law.  Within
    26  the first ten days of the month following collection of the sex offender
    27  registration  fee  and  DNA databank fee, the collecting authority shall
    28  determine the amount of the sex offender registration fee and DNA  data-
    29  bank  fee  collected and, if it is an administrative tribunal, or a town
    30  or village justice court, it shall then pay  such  money  to  the  state
    31  comptroller  who shall deposit such money in the state treasury pursuant
    32  to section one hundred twenty-one of the state finance law to the credit
    33  of the general fund. If such collecting authority is any other court  of
    34  the  unified  court system, it shall, within such period, pay such money
    35  attributable to the mandatory surcharge or crime victim  assistance  fee

    36  to  the  state commissioner of taxation and finance to the credit of the
    37  criminal justice improvement account established by section  ninety-sev-
    38  en-bb  of  the  state finance law.   If such collecting authority is any
    39  other court of the unified court system, it shall, within  such  period,
    40  pay such money attributable to the sex offender registration fee and the
    41  DNA  databank  fee  to the state commissioner of taxation and finance to
    42  the credit of the general fund.
    43    3-a.   Within the  first  ten  days  following  the  pronouncement  of
    44  sentence  of  the convicted offender, the clerk of the court pronouncing
    45  the sentence shall calculate and  determine  the  amount  of  the  crime
    46  victim  assistance  fee provided for in subdivision one of this section.

    47  Immediately thereafter, the convicted offender shall pay to the clerk of
    48  the court or administrative tribunal that rendered  the  conviction  the
    49  full  amount  of  the  crime  victim's  assistance fee so calculated and
    50  determined, and such court shall thereupon act as the collecting author-
    51  ity. If such collecting authority is an administrative  tribunal,  or  a
    52  town or village justice court, it shall then pay such money to the state
    53  comptroller  who shall deposit such money in the state treasury pursuant
    54  to section one hundred twenty-one of the state finance law to the credit
    55  of the crime victim's assistance account established by section  ninety-
    56  four-c  of  the  state  finance law. If such collecting authority is any


        A. 6493                             4
 
     1  other court of the unified court system, it shall, within  such  period,
     2  pay  such money to the state commissioner of taxation and finance to the
     3  credit of the crime victim's assistance account established  by  section
     4  ninety-four-c of the state finance law.
     5    3-b.    Upon  the pronouncement of sentence upon a convicted offender,
     6  the clerk of the court pronouncing such sentence shall  create  a  crime
     7  victim's  list. This list shall provide the name of the convicted offen-
     8  der and the offenses for which he was convicted, as well  as  the  name,
     9  address, and telephone number of every individual whom the court deems a
    10  victim  of  the  crime  or  crimes  for which the convicted offender was

    11  convicted. A victim of the crime shall include  anyone  against  whom  a
    12  crime  or violent act in furtherance of a crime was committed, or in the
    13  case of a homicide all family members of the deceased victim within  one
    14  degree  of  consanguinity.  This  list  shall be filed with the attorney
    15  general and shall be sealed from public  inspection  so  as  to  protect
    16  crime  victims  from having their names and identities made known to the
    17  public and the press.
    18    4. Any person who has paid a mandatory surcharge, sex offender  regis-
    19  tration  fee,  DNA  databank  fee,  a  crime  victim assistance fee or a
    20  supplemental sex offender victim fee under the authority of this section
    21  based upon a conviction that is subsequently  reversed  or  who  paid  a

    22  mandatory  surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee, a
    23  crime victim assistance fee or  supplemental  sex  offender  victim  fee
    24  under  the  authority of this section which is ultimately determined not
    25  to be required by this section shall be entitled to  a  refund  of  such
    26  mandatory  surcharge,  sex  offender registration fee, DNA databank fee,
    27  crime victim assistance fee or supplemental sex offender victim fee upon
    28  application to  the  state  comptroller.  The  state  comptroller  shall
    29  require  such  proof  as  is  necessary  in order to determine whether a
    30  refund is required by law.
    31    5. (a) When a person who is convicted of  a  crime  or  violation  and
    32  sentenced  to  a  term  of  imprisonment has failed to pay the mandatory
    33  surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee, crime victim

    34  assistance fee or supplemental sex offender victim fee required by  this
    35  section, the clerk of the court that rendered the conviction shall noti-
    36  fy  the  superintendent  or the municipal official of the facility where
    37  the person is confined. The superintendent  or  the  municipal  official
    38  shall cause any amount owing to be collected from such person during his
    39  or  her  term  of  imprisonment from moneys to the credit of an inmates'
    40  fund or such moneys as may be earned by  a  person  in  a  work  release
    41  program pursuant to section eight hundred sixty of the correction law or
    42  as  they may be awarded to such inmate pursuant to litigation or settle-
    43  ment of litigation.  Such moneys attributable to the mandatory surcharge
    44  or crime victim assistance fee shall be paid over  to  the  state  comp-

    45  troller to the credit of the criminal justice improvement account estab-
    46  lished  by  section  ninety-seven-bb  of  the state finance law and such
    47  moneys attributable to the sex offender registration fee or DNA databank
    48  fee shall be paid over to the state comptroller to  the  credit  of  the
    49  general   fund,   except  that  any  such  moneys  collected  which  are
    50  surcharges, sex offender registration fees, DNA  databank  fees[,  crime
    51  victim  assistance fees] or supplemental sex offender victim fees levied
    52  in relation to convictions obtained in a town or village  justice  court
    53  shall be paid within thirty days after the receipt thereof by the super-
    54  intendent  or  municipal  official of the facility to the justice of the
    55  court in which the conviction was obtained. Such moneys, with respect to

    56  the payment of the crime victim's assistance fee, shall be paid over  to

        A. 6493                             5
 
     1  the  state  comptroller  to  the credit of the crime victim's assistance
     2  account established by section ninety-four-c of the state  finance  law.
     3  For  the  purposes  of collecting such mandatory surcharge, sex offender
     4  registration  fee,  DNA  databank  fee, crime victim assistance fee, and
     5  supplemental sex offender victim fee, the state shall be  legally  enti-
     6  tled  to  the  money to the credit of an inmates' fund or money which is
     7  earned by an inmate in a work release program or as they may be  awarded
     8  to  such inmate pursuant to litigation or settlement of litigation.  For
     9  purposes of this subdivision, the term "inmates' fund" shall mean moneys

    10  in the possession of an inmate at the time of his or her admission  into
    11  such facility, funds earned by him or her as provided for in section one
    12  hundred  eighty-seven of the correction law and any other funds received
    13  by him or her or on his or her behalf and  deposited  with  such  super-
    14  intendent  or  municipal official, or funds received including any funds
    15  that may be awarded to such inmate pursuant to litigation or  settlement
    16  of litigation.
    17    (b)  The  incarceration fee provided for in subdivision two of section
    18  one hundred eighty-nine of the correction law shall not be  assessed  or
    19  collected  if  any  order  of restitution or reparation, fine, mandatory
    20  surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee, crime victim
    21  assistance fee or supplemental sex offender victim fee  remains  unpaid.

    22  In  such  circumstances,  any monies which may lawfully be withheld from
    23  the compensation paid to a prisoner for work performed while housed in a
    24  general confinement facility in satisfaction of such an obligation shall
    25  first be applied toward satisfaction of such obligation.
    26    5-a. For the purposes of collecting such mandatory surcharge or  crime
    27  victim's  assistance  fee, the state shall be legally entitled to file a
    28  crime victim's lien against the convicted offender, in the amount of the
    29  unpaid portion of such mandatory surcharge or crime victim's  assistance
    30  fee. Such lien may be filed any time after a sentence is pronounced upon
    31  the offender, and shall exist from the date of the pronouncement of such
    32  sentence until the convicted offender pays the full amount of the manda-

    33  tory  surcharge  and  crime  victim's assistance fee, or for twenty-five
    34  years from the date of the pronouncement  of  the  convicted  offender's
    35  sentence,  whichever is less. Such lien shall be filed with the attorney
    36  general by the clerk of the court from which the offender is  convicted.
    37  Upon the filing of such lien, the attorney general may at anytime there-
    38  after  execute and enforce such lien against the convicted offender, for
    39  the collection of the mandatory  surcharge  and/or  the  crime  victim's
    40  assistance  fee.  Such  lien shall empower the attorney general, without
    41  prior application to any court or administrative tribunal, to  take  any
    42  action  necessary  to  collect  such  mandatory  surcharge  and/or crime

    43  victim's assistance fee, including, but not limited to, the  attachment,
    44  seizure  and  sale  of  the  convicted offender's assets, including real
    45  property, personal tangible property and/or personal intangible  proper-
    46  ty,  as  well  as  the  garnishment  of up to twenty-five percent of the
    47  convicted offender's wages. This collection shall be enforceable whether
    48  or not such offender is incarcerated at the time of its  execution,  and
    49  whether  or  not  such  offender  has completely or partially served the
    50  sentence pronounced upon him.
    51    5-b. All monies collected pursuant to the enforcement and execution of
    52  the state's crime victim's lien against a  convicted  offender,  as  set

    53  forth  in  subdivision  five  of this section, shall be delivered by the
    54  attorney general to the comptroller. The comptroller shall deposit  into
    55  the  internal  service fund account for the department of law, an amount
    56  equal to nineteen percent of the monies so collected, in order to offset

        A. 6493                             6
 
     1  the costs and expenses of performing such collection,  lien  enforcement
     2  and  execution.   All remaining monies, if collected from the failure of
     3  the convicted offender to pay a mandatory surcharge, shall be  deposited
     4  by  the  comptroller  into  the criminal justice improvement account, as
     5  defined in section ninety-seven-bb of the  state  finance  law,  and  if

     6  collected  from  the  failure  of  the convicted offender to pay a crime
     7  victim's assistance fee shall be deposited by the comptroller  into  the
     8  crime  victim's  assistance account, as defined in section ninety-four-c
     9  of the state finance law.   Upon the collection  of  monies  under  this
    10  section,  the attorney general shall provide written notice to the crime
    11  victim or victims on the crime victim's list for the convicted  offender
    12  which  was  prepared  by  the court or administrative tribunal and filed
    13  with the attorney  general  pursuant  to  subdivision  three-b  of  this
    14  section.
    15    6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where a person
    16  has  made  restitution  or  reparation pursuant to section 60.27 of this

    17  article, such person [shall] at the discretion of the court, may not  be
    18  required to pay a mandatory surcharge or a crime victim assistance fee.
    19    7.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of section 60.00
    20  of this article, the provisions of subdivision one of this section shall
    21  not apply to a violation under any law other than this chapter.
    22    8. Subdivision one of section 130.10 of  the  criminal  procedure  law
    23  notwithstanding,  at the time that the mandatory surcharge, sex offender
    24  registration fee or DNA databank fee, crime  victim  assistance  fee  or
    25  supplemental  sex offender victim fee is imposed a town or village court
    26  may, and all other courts shall, issue and cause to be served  upon  the
    27  person  required  to pay the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registra-
    28  tion fee or DNA databank fee, crime victim  assistance  fee  or  supple-

    29  mental  sex  offender  victim  fee, a summons directing that such person
    30  appear  before  the  court  regarding  the  payment  of  the   mandatory
    31  surcharge,  sex  offender  registration  fee  or DNA databank fee, crime
    32  victim assistance fee or supplemental sex offender victim fee, if  after
    33  sixty  days  from  the date it was imposed it remains unpaid. The desig-
    34  nated date of appearance on the summons shall be set for the  first  day
    35  court  is  in session falling after the sixtieth day from the imposition
    36  of the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or  DNA  data-
    37  bank  fee,  crime  victim  assistance  fee  or supplemental sex offender
    38  victim fee. The summons shall contain the information required by subdi-
    39  vision two of section 130.10 of the criminal procedure law  except  that
    40  in substitution for the requirement of paragraph (c) of such subdivision

    41  the  summons  shall  state that the person served must appear at a date,
    42  time and specific location specified in the summons if after sixty  days
    43  from  the  date of issuance the mandatory surcharge, sex offender regis-
    44  tration fee or DNA databank fee, crime victim assistance fee or  supple-
    45  mental sex offender victim fee remains unpaid. The court shall not issue
    46  a summons under this subdivision to a person who is being sentenced to a
    47  term of confinement in excess of sixty days in jail or in the department
    48  of  corrections and community supervision. The mandatory surcharges, sex
    49  offender registration fee and DNA databank fees, crime victim assistance
    50  fees and supplemental sex offender victim fees for those  persons  shall
    51  be governed by the provisions of section 60.30 of this article.
    52    9.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section,

    53  in the event a proceeding is in a town  or  village  court,  such  court
    54  shall  add  an additional five dollars to the surcharges imposed by such
    55  subdivision one.

        A. 6493                             7
 
     1    10. The provisions of this section shall apply  to  sentences  imposed
     2  upon a youthful offender finding; provided, however that the court shall
     3  not  impose  the  sex  offender  registration  fee,  DNA databank fee or
     4  supplemental sex offender victim fee, as defined in  subparagraphs  (iv)
     5  and  (v)  of  paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this
     6  section, for an offense in which the conviction was substituted  with  a
     7  youthful offender finding.
     8    §  4.  Subdivision  5 of section 60.35 of the penal law, as amended by
     9  section 2 of part E of chapter 56 of the laws of  2004,  is  amended  to
    10  read as follows:

    11    5.  When  a  person  who  is  convicted  of  a  crime or violation and
    12  sentenced to a term of imprisonment has  failed  to  pay  the  mandatory
    13  surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee, crime victim
    14  assistance  fee or supplemental sex offender victim fee required by this
    15  section, the clerk of the court that rendered the conviction shall noti-
    16  fy the superintendent or the municipal official of  the  facility  where
    17  the  person  is  confined.  The superintendent or the municipal official
    18  shall cause any amount owing to be collected from such person during his
    19  or her term of imprisonment from moneys to the  credit  of  an  inmates'
    20  fund  or  such  moneys  as  may  be earned by a person in a work release
    21  program pursuant to section eight hundred sixty of the correction law or
    22  as they may be awarded to such inmate pursuant to litigation or  settle-

    23  ment  of litigation. Such moneys attributable to the mandatory surcharge
    24  or crime victim assistance fee shall be paid over  to  the  state  comp-
    25  troller to the credit of the criminal justice improvement account estab-
    26  lished  by  section  ninety-seven-bb  of  the state finance law and such
    27  moneys attributable to the sex offender registration fee or DNA databank
    28  fee shall be paid over to the state comptroller to  the  credit  of  the
    29  general   fund,   except  that  any  such  moneys  collected  which  are
    30  surcharges, sex offender registration fees, DNA  databank  fees[,  crime
    31  victim  assistance fees] or supplemental sex offender victim fees levied
    32  in relation to convictions obtained in a town or village  justice  court
    33  shall be paid within thirty days after the receipt thereof by the super-

    34  intendent  or  municipal  official of the facility to the justice of the
    35  court in which the conviction was obtained. Such moneys, with respect to
    36  the payment of the crime victim's assistance fee, shall be paid over  to
    37  the  state  comptroller  to  the credit of the crime victim's assistance
    38  account established by section ninety-four-c of the state  finance  law.
    39  For  the  purposes  of collecting such mandatory surcharge, sex offender
    40  registration fee, DNA databank fee,  crime  victim  assistance  fee  and
    41  supplemental  sex  offender victim fee, the state shall be legally enti-
    42  tled to the money to the credit of an inmates' fund or  money  which  is
    43  earned  by an inmate in a work release program or as they may be awarded
    44  to such inmate pursuant to litigation or settlement of  litigation.  For

    45  purposes of this subdivision, the term "inmates' fund" shall mean moneys
    46  in  the possession of an inmate at the time of his or her admission into
    47  such facility, funds earned by him or her as provided for in section one
    48  hundred eighty-seven of the correction law and any other funds  received
    49  by  him  or  her  or on his or her behalf and deposited with such super-
    50  intendent or municipal official, or funds received, including any  funds
    51  that  may be awarded to such inmate pursuant to litigation or settlement
    52  of litigation.
    53    § 5. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 94-c  to
    54  read as follows:
    55    §  94-c.  Crime victim's assistance account. 1. There is hereby estab-
    56  lished in the joint custody of the state comptroller  and  the  attorney


        A. 6493                             8
 
     1  general  a  special  revenue  fund  to  be  known as the "crime victim's
     2  assistance account."
     3    2.  The  crime victim's assistance account shall consist of all monies
     4  received by the state pursuant to section 60.35 of the penal law and all
     5  other fees, fines, grants, bequests or other monies credited,  appropri-
     6  ated or transferred thereto from any other fund or source.
     7    3.  Monies  of  the  crime  victim's  assistance account shall be made
     8  available for the following purposes:
     9    a. For state operation  expenses  and  local  assistance  services  to
    10  provide services to crime victims and witnesses; and
    11    b.  For  grants  and  expenses  to  private associations, services and

    12  programs which provide services to crime victims and witnesses; and
    13    c. For compensation payments to crime victims and their families.
    14    4. Monies allocated from the crime  victim's  assistance  account  for
    15  state  operation  expenses  and  local  assistance  services, to provide
    16  services to crime victims and witnesses, shall not,  in  the  aggregate,
    17  annually  exceed  ten  percent  of  the  funds of the account's previous
    18  year's annual cash balance. The attorney general shall  make  an  annual
    19  recommendation  to the governor and the legislature as to the allocation
    20  of these monies.
    21    5. Monies allocated from the crime  victim's  assistance  account  for
    22  grants  and  expenses  to  private  associations, services and programs,

    23  which provide services to crime victims and witnesses, shall not, in the
    24  aggregate, annually exceed ten percent of the  funds  of  the  account's
    25  previous  year's annual cash balance. The attorney general shall make an
    26  annual recommendation to the governor and  the  legislature  as  to  the
    27  allocation of these monies.
    28    6.  Upon the payment or collection of a crime victim's assistance fee,
    29  or a portion thereof, from a convicted offender, and upon the deposit of
    30  such monies into the crime victim's  assistance  account  by  the  comp-
    31  troller,  a  crime victim, who is set forth on a crime victim's list for
    32  the convicted offender as defined in subdivision five of  section  60.35
    33  of the penal law, shall be eligible to apply to the attorney general for

    34  crime  victim's  assistance.  Upon  verification of the attorney general
    35  from the crime victim's list that such applicant is a  crime  victim  of
    36  the convicted offender, and upon verification from the state comptroller
    37  that  payment  or  collection of monies were made against such convicted
    38  offender and that such monies were deposited  into  the  crime  victim's
    39  assistance account and the amount of such monies, if any, that have been
    40  previously  paid  by  or  collected  from,  such convicted offender, the
    41  attorney general shall certify to the comptroller that such applicant is
    42  eligible to receive crime victim's assistance.  Such certification shall
    43  specify the current name and address of the crime victim, and the amount

    44  of the monies deposited into the crime victim's assistance account as  a
    45  result  of  the  payment  by,  or  the  collection  of  monies from, the
    46  convicted offender. Pursuant to the issuance of the  attorney  general's
    47  certification  or  certifications,  the  comptroller shall within thirty
    48  days of receipt of  such  certification  or  certifications,  issue  and
    49  provide  a pro rata payment to each crime victim in the amount of seven-
    50  ty-five percent of the amount of  money  so  certified  as  having  been
    51  deposited  in  the  crime victim's assistance account as a result of the
    52  payment by, or the collection of monies from, the convicted offender.
    53    § 6. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall

    54  have  become  a  law  and shall apply to all convictions occurring on or
    55  after such date, provided  that  the  amendments  to  subdivision  5  of
    56  section  60.35  of the penal law made by section three of this act shall

        A. 6493                             9
 
     1  be subject to the expiration and reversion of such subdivision  pursuant
     2  to  section  74  of chapter 3 of the laws of 1995, as amended, when upon
     3  such date the provisions of section four of this act shall take effect.
Go to top