AB 1083

This bill adds damage to a building as a result of arson to the types of injury that

may be compensated under the victim compensation program.

Under current law, the Department of Justice administers a program that

compensates victims and their relatives for economic loss due to personal injury or

death that results from the commission of a crime. Allowable expenses include loss

of income, medical treatments, and replacement value for property held for evidence,

and certain other types of expenses that are not paid by insurance or paid for by the

perpetrator of the crime. Under current law, a person may not receive an award

under the victim compensation program unless the victim suffered personal injury

or death as a result of the crime, and the allowable expenses to be paid do not

generally include property damage as a result of the crime. Current law limits the

amount to be paid for each personal injury or death to $40,000.

Under the bill, if a building is damaged by arson, the owner of the building may

receive compensation from the victim compensation program. The amount of the

award is equal to the difference between the amount paid by insurance and the cost

of necessary repairs or the fair market value of the building, whichever is less. The

bill maintains the $40,000 cap on an award from the victim compensation program

for damage to a building.