Committee hears change to allow Attorney General to issue emergency awards earlier in victims’ compensation process

House Bill 3745, presented by Senator Zaffirini in the Senate Finance Committee, would expand the Attorney General’s authority under the Crime Victims' Compensation program to issue emergency awards earlier in the application process for anticipated financial losses when a final award appears likely and the claimant faces serious hardship.

Sponsor remarks explained current law limits the Attorney General’s authority to make emergency awards at certain stages and that the bill would permit emergency awards at any point in the application process when the statutory threshold is met. The bill would also allow emergency awards to be deducted from or repaid against a final award; in cases involving deceased victims tied to a declared state of emergency, the statute would apply the same standards.

Tara Tucker, Texas state director for Alliance for Safety and Justice and representative of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, testified in support and cited survey data showing many survivors are unaware of compensation programs and often experience financial hardship. "Survivors of violent crime are more likely to experience hardships such as bankruptcy, PTSD," Tucker said, arguing emergency awards can reduce immediate harms.

The committee recorded the bill as heard with no recorded questions and moved the measure forward; the committee report shows HB 3745 was reported favorably to the full Senate with a unanimous recorded voice vote in committee.