Subcommittee advances HB 1711 to establish Mass Violence Care Fund with $10 million capitalization and definition changes

The Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law voted to report HB 1711, authorizing a Mass Violence Care Fund capitalized by $10,000,000 appropriated previously, and establishing statutory definitions and administration rules intended to address long-term gaps in care for victims of mass violence.

Sponsor Delegate Bulova described HB 1711 as the legislative outcome of a year-long work group formed by the 2023 Appropriations Act to define a mass violence event and the fund’s structure, eligibility and disbursement mechanics. The bill would create a separate, nonreverting sub-fund of the Virginia Victims Fund (also known as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund) administered by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission and use interest earned on the $10 million capitalization for annual disbursements. "The purpose of the fund is to reimburse victims of mass violence events for out of pocket expenses related to physical health and mental health that aren't covered by other means," Bulova said.

Work group members…