HB 2476 — An Act amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions.

PRINTER'S NO.   3336

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2476
                                                  Session of
                                                    2026

     INTRODUCED BY SMITH-WADE-EL, RIVERA, HILL-EVANS, GAYDOS,
        McNEILL, STEELE, HOHENSTEIN AND D. WILLIAMS, MAY 4, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 4, 2026


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111),
 2      entitled "An act providing for victims' rights; imposing
 3      penalties; establishing remedies; establishing the Office of
 4      Victim Advocate, the Bureau of Victims' Services, the
 5      Victims' Services Advisory Committee, the State Offender
 6      Supervision Fund and other funds; and making repeals," in
 7      preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    The definition of "out-of-pocket loss" in section
11   103 of the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as
12   the Crime Victims Act, is amended to read:
13   Section 103.    Definitions.
14      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16   context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      * * *
18      "Out-of-pocket loss."       The term includes the following losses
19   which shall be reimbursed at a rate set by the Office of
20   Victims' Services:
 1        (1)   expenses for unreimbursed and unreimbursable
 2    expenses or indebtedness incurred for medical care,
 3    nonmedical remedial care and treatment as approved by the
 4    Office of Victims' Services or other services;
 5        (2)   expenses for counseling, prosthetic devices,
 6    wheelchairs, canes, walkers, hearing aids, eyeglasses or
 7    other corrective lenses or dental devices reasonably
 8    necessary as a result of the crime upon which the claim is
 9    based and for which the claimant either has paid or is
10    liable;
11        (3)   expenses related to the reasonable and necessary
12    costs of cleaning the crime scene of a private residence or
13    privately owned motor vehicle. "Cleaning" means to remove or
14    attempt to remove stains or blood caused by the crime or
15    other dirt or debris caused by the processing of the crime
16    scene;
17        (4)   expenses resulting from the temporary or permanent
18    relocation of a direct victim [and], individuals and common
19    household pets, including expenses resulting from the
20    temporary boarding of common household pets, residing in the
21    household of the direct victim due to the incident forming
22    the basis of the victim's claim when there is an immediate
23    need to protect the safety and health of the victim [and],
24    individuals and common household pets residing in the
25    household, as verified by a medical provider, human services
26    provider or law enforcement[;]. For the purposes of this
27    paragraph, the term "common household pet" means a
28    domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish
29    or turtle, that is traditionally kept in the home for
30    pleasure rather than for commercial purposes;

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1          (5)   expenses for physical examinations and materials
2      used to obtain evidence; or
3          (6)   other reasonable expenses which are deemed necessary
4      as a direct result of the criminal incident.
5   Except as otherwise provided, the term does not include property
6   damage or pain and suffering.
7      * * *
8      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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