VirginiaSB8122026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Victims of crime; reimbursement for expenses, report.

Sponsored By: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Victims of crime; reimbursement for expenses; work group. Provides that all medical fees expended in the gathering of evidence through anonymous trace evidence collection kit examinations conducted on victims complaining of strangulation pursuant to relevant law shall be paid by the Commonwealth through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (also known as the Virginia Victims Fund) administered by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The bill states that such victims shall not be required to participate in the criminal justice system or cooperate with law-enforcement authorities in order to be provided with such medical exams. Under current law, all medical fees expended in the gathering of evidence through physical evidence recovery kit examinations conducted on victims complaining of sexual assault are paid by the Commonwealth via the Fund, and victims complaining of sexual assault are not required to participate in the criminal justice system or cooperate with law-enforcement authorities in order to be provided with such forensic medical exams. The bill expands the powers and duties of the Commission to adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable rules and regulations to include a distinct policy for the payment of anonymous trace evidence collection kit examinations. Lastly, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to discuss and submit recommendations for certain matters related to the reimbursement process for forensic medical examinations, enumerated in the bill. The bill directs the work group to submit a report with recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 1464.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Wage help for victims and families

If a crime leaves you unable to work, you get 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage. If you can work some, you get two-thirds of the wage gap. Your earnings plus this pay cannot be over $600 per week. Parents or guardians of minor victims get pay for medical visits and case steps. If a victim dies, dependents get payments under workers’ comp rules, up to the victim’s limits.

Caps and offsets on victim awards

To qualify, a claim must be at least $100. Awards are reduced by any money you get from the offender or other sources. After these reductions, total payments for an injury or death cannot be more than $35,000.

Free forensic exams and billing rules

The state pays all medical fees to gather evidence when needed in a criminal case. It pays for sexual assault kits and anonymous trace evidence kits for strangulation. You do not have to report to police to get a sexual assault exam. Providers can bill the Fund directly. These payments do not count against your Fund maximum. The prosecutor designates providers, and may choose a nearby provider if none are local. If not designated before, the prosecutor must approve before or within 48 hours after service. After conviction, courts order the defendant to repay the state for these fees.

Help with medical, funeral, moving costs

The Fund pays unreimbursed medical bills and other needed costs from the crime. Funeral or burial is covered up to $10,000. Mental health counseling is covered up to $3,500 per claim. Moving expenses are covered up to $2,000. It also covers pregnancy costs from forcible rape. A person who paid the funeral bill can be repaid within these limits.

Work group to improve reimbursements

The criminal justice services director runs a work group to improve forensic exam reimbursement. The group includes health, courts, hospitals, nurses, and others. It recommends training, clear contacts, steady funding, higher reimbursement, and paying nurse time and testimony. The report is due to lawmakers by November 1, 2026.

Rules to pay and process claims

The Commission sets rules for paying sexual assault and strangulation exam bills, including legal mileage rates. Providers must make payment agreements with the Commission that fully settle bills in most cases. The Commission can get police and medical examiner records for claims and must keep them confidential. It hears claims, can reopen cases, and reports each year on unclaimed restitution.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer B. Boysko

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 535 • No: 41

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 93 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 38 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 40

House vote 3/4/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading)

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/2/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0859)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 859 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB812)

    4/3/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB812ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  12. Conference Report released

    3/13/2026
  13. House Conferees: Shin, Mehta, Hodges

    3/12/2026House
  14. Conferees appointed by House

    3/12/2026House
  15. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB812)

    3/10/2026Senate
  17. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/10/2026Senate
  18. Senate Conferees: Boysko, Perry, Stanley

    3/10/2026Senate
  19. House requested conference committee

    3/9/2026House
  20. House insisted on substitute

    3/9/2026House
  21. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  22. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026House
  23. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    3/4/2026House
  24. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026House
  25. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    3/4/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation