ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2061

victim compensation; unclaimed property

Purpose

Directs the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) to deposit unclaimed victim restitution funds into the victim compensation and assistance fund.

Background

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for the administration of the victim compensation and assistance fund. Currently, the victim compensation fund consists of monies collected from assessments of working prisoners’ compensation as well as community supervision fees.

A court may order a criminal defendant to pay restitution to the crime victim. The defendant pays the restitution to the court, which in turn distributes the monies to the victim. If the court is unable to locate the victim and the victim’s restitution monies go unclaimed for five years, the monies are transmitted to DOR. These unclaimed monies are then distributed among various funds, including the state general fund.

The fiscal impact on the state general fund is undetermined at this time. However, last year Maricopa County forwarded $148,020 to DOR and Pima County forwarded $5,595.

Provisions

1. Requires DOR to deposit unclaimed victim restitution monies into the victim compensation and assistance fund for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and supporting programs that compensate and assist victim's of crime.

2. Requires the victim's rights program plan of the Attorney General's Office (AG) to provide for training on the provision of victim's rights services.

3. Requires supplemental fund monies that are appropriated to the AG for victim's rights training and the reporting of victim's feedback on services provided to be expended according to the AG's plan.

4. Requires the AG to spend the appropriation for costs to develop, provide and support programs that expand delivery and improve quality of services to victims of crimes.

5. Makes conforming and technical changes.

6. Applies retroactively to January 1, 2001.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Changes the retroactive effective date from July 18, 2000, to January 1, 2001.

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

1. Adopts the Judiciary Committee amendment.

2. Requires the AG's victim's rights program plan to provide specified information.

3. Requires the AG to develop a plan for the use of specified supplemental fund monies and provides direction on how the funds will be expended.

House Action Senate Action

JUD 1/16/01 DP 9-0-0-1-0 JUD 2/27/01 DPA 7-0-1-0 1/16/01 DP 9-0-0-1-0

3^rd Read 1/24/01 59-0-1-0 3^rd Read 4/4/01 30-0

Prepared by Senate Staff