SB 896 — An Act amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, in compensation, further providing for determination of claims and for awards.

PRINTER'S NO.    1026

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 896
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, STEFANO, KANE, MILLER AND HAYWOOD,
        JUNE 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JUNE 30, 2025


                                     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      compensation, further providing for determination of claims
 8      and for awards.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.    Section 704(b)(1) of the act of November 24, 1998
12   (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, is amended to
13   read:
14   Section 704.    Determination of claims.
15      * * *
16      (b)   Review.--
17            (1)   The Office of Victims' Services shall review the
18      claim and all supporting documents and investigate the
19      validity of the claim. The investigation [shall] may include
20      an examination of police, court and official records and
21      reports provided by the claimant concerning the crime and may
 1      include an examination of medical and hospital reports
 2      relating to the injury upon which the claim is based.
 3      Providing the Office of Victims' Services with a valid form
 4      of supporting documentation described under section 707(a.1)
 5      shall be considered sufficient to verify that the crime
 6      occurred. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
 7      limit the Office of Victims' Services' ability to contact the
 8      agency, organization, court or individual from which a
 9      supporting document is said to originate to confirm the
10      document's authenticity. The Office of Victims' Services may
11      not request or review counseling notes of mental health
12      service providers. The Office of Victims' Services shall
13      request an assessment from the mental health service provider
14      as to the extent the service provided is needed as a direct
15      result of the crime.
16            * * *
17      Section 2.     Section 707(a), (a.1), (a.2) and (b)(1)(iii) of
18   the act are amended and the section is amended by adding a
19   subsection to read:
20   Section 707.     Awards.
21      (a)   Requirements.--No award shall be made unless it is
22   determined by a preponderance of the evidence that:
23            (1)   A crime was committed.
24            (2)   The person injured or killed was a direct victim or
25      intervenor.
26            (3)   The crime was promptly reported to the proper
27      authorities or the Office of Victims' Services receives a
28      form of documentation described under subsection (a.1).
29            (4)   The direct victim, intervenor or claimant has fully
30      cooperated with [all law enforcement agencies and] the Office

20250SB0896PN1026                    - 2 -
 1      of Victims' Services, unless the Office of Victims' Services
 2      finds the noncompliance to have been justified consistent
 3      with the Office of Victims' Services regulations. The Office
 4      of Victims' Services shall [ensure that the regulations
 5      relating to cooperation with all law enforcement agencies of
 6      a direct victim, intervenor or claimant comply with] provide
 7      information encouraging victim cooperation with law
 8      enforcement agencies in compliance with all applicable
 9      Federal laws and regulations relating to state promotion of
10      victim cooperation with law enforcement.
11      (a.1)     [Protection from abuse] Supporting documentation.--A
12   claimant who satisfies the eligibility requirements of
13   subsection (a)(1), (2) and (4) may satisfy the eligibility
14   requirement under subsection (a)(3) [for reporting a crime to
15   the proper authorities by commencing] by doing any of the
16   following:
17          (1)     Commencing an action brought in accordance with 23
18      Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection from abuse) and as
19      provided for in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. In
20      no case may an award be made if the record shows that the
21      petition was[:
22          (1)     Withdrawn] withdrawn, unless the Office of Victims'
23      Services finds the withdrawal to have been justified,
24      consistent with regulations of the Office of Victims'
25      Services.
26          (2)     (Reserved).
27          (2.1)     Commencing an action brought in accordance with 42
28      Pa.C.S. Ch. 62A (relating to protection of victims of sexual
29      violence or intimidation) and as provided under the
30      Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. An award may not be

20250SB0896PN1026                    - 3 -
 1      made if the record shows that the petition was withdrawn,
 2      except if the Office of Victims' Services finds the
 3      withdrawal to have been justified, consistent with
 4      regulations of the Office of Victims' Services.
 5          (3)    Providing the Office of Victims' Services with
 6      medical records documenting injuries to the direct victim or
 7      intervenor, consistent with the allegations of the crime.
 8          (4)    Obtaining a sexual assault forensic examination.
 9          (5)    Providing the Office of Victims' Services with a
10      signed statement from a mental health care provider or other
11      licensed health care provider certifying that the victim
12      suffered from physical or mental injury as a result of the
13      crime. In the event the certifying mental health care
14      provider or licensed health care provider provides direct
15      services to the victim, compensation for the services shall
16      be limited to Medicare-approved rates.
17          (6)    Any other form of documentation that the Office of
18      Victims' Services considers sufficient pursuant to
19      regulations to verify that the crime occurred.
20      [(a.2)    Sexual violence and intimidation orders.--A claimant
21   who satisfies the eligibility requirements of subsection (a)(1),
22   (2) and (4) may satisfy the eligibility requirement under
23   subsection (a)(3) for reporting a crime to the proper
24   authorities by commencing an action brought in accordance with
25   42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 62A (relating to protection of victims of sexual
26   violence or intimidation) and as provided for in the
27   Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. An award may not be made
28   if the record shows that the petition was withdrawn, except if
29   the Office of Victims' Services finds the withdrawal to have
30   been justified, consistent with regulations of the Office of

20250SB0896PN1026                   - 4 -
 1   Victims' Services.]
 2      (b)   Amount.--
 3            (1)   Any award made under this chapter shall be
 4      contingent upon funds being available and be in an amount not
 5      exceeding out-of-pocket loss, together with loss of past,
 6      present or future earnings or support resulting from such
 7      injury. In no case shall the total amount of an award exceed
 8      $35,000 except for payment of the following:
 9                  * * *
10                  (iii)   reasonable and necessary costs of cleaning the
11            crime scene of a private residence or privately owned
12            motor vehicle, the amount of which shall not exceed
13            [$500] $1,500.
14            * * *
15      (i)   Debt collection activities prohibited.--
16            (1)   When a claimant files a claim for compensation under
17      this chapter, any of the following that has been given notice
18      of a pending claim relating to the debt or expense, as
19      provided under paragraph (3) or (4), shall refrain from all
20      debt collection activities relating to the claim until the
21      Office of Victims' Services has made an award on the claim
22      and issued payment or 45 days after the date of notice from
23      the Office of Victims' Services of a final decision to deny
24      the claim:
25                  (i)    A hospital or licensed health care provider that
26            has provided medical care in relation to the crime upon
27            which the claim is based.
28                  (ii)    A person or entity that has provided funeral or
29            death-related services in relation to the death of a
30            victim.

20250SB0896PN1026                       - 5 -
 1               (iii)   A person or entity that has provided crime
 2        scene cleanup services.
 3               (iv)    Another vendor of a service or expense that may
 4        be eligible for an award under this chapter.
 5        (2)    As soon as practicable, the Office of Victims'
 6    Services shall issue to a claimant a written notice of the
 7    claim and inform the claimant that the claimant may provide a
 8    copy of the written notice to vendors or service providers to
 9    have debt collection activities cease while the claim is
10    pending.
11        (3)    An applicant may provide a copy of the written
12    notice issued under paragraph (2) to a vendor or service
13    provider waiting for payment of a debt related to the claim.
14    Providing the notice to a vendor or service provider
15    authorizes the vendor, service provider or a billing agent of
16    the vendor or service provider to confirm with the Office of
17    Victims' Services the claimant's claim status and date of
18    resolution as it relates to vendor or service provider's
19    specific debt.
20        (4)    A vendor or service provider that assists an
21    applicant in completing or submitting a claim for
22    compensation, or a vendor or service provider that submits a
23    bill to the Office of Victims' Services, has constructive
24    notice of the filing of the claim and must not engage in debt
25    collection activities against the applicant for debt related
26    to the claim, in accordance with paragraph (1).
27        (5)    The statute of limitations for collection of debt
28    shall be tolled during the period in which the applicable
29    vendor or service provider is required to refrain from debt
30    collection activities under this subsection.

20250SB0896PN1026                    - 6 -
 1        (6)   As used in this subsection, the term "debt
 2    collection activities":
 3              (i)    Shall include:
 4                     (A)   repeatedly calling or writing to a claimant
 5              or other person eligible for benefits associated with
 6              a claim;
 7                     (B)   threatening to refer or actually referring
 8              the unpaid health care matter, funeral expense, other
 9              death-related expense or crime scene cleanup expense
10              to a debt collection agency or an attorney for
11              collection;
12                     (C)   filing a legal action or pursuing any legal
13              process or legal proceeding; or
14                     (D)   contacting a credit ratings agency or
15              distributing information that could affect the
16              claimant's credit rating as a result of nonpayment
17              for the service provided.
18              (ii)    Shall not include:
19                     (A)   billing insurance or other government
20              programs;
21                     (B)   routine inquiries about coverage by private
22              insurance or government programs; or
23                     (C)   routine billing that indicates that the
24              amount is not due pending resolution of the claim for
25              compensation.
26    Section 3.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250SB0896PN1026                     - 7 -