Senate Judiciary Committee advances reappointment of Rebecca Dickinson to Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board

The Senate Judiciary Committee on an afternoon recess voted to advance the reappointment of Rebecca (Becky) Dickinson to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board and will send the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.

The vote follows a short hearing that began with discussion of Dickinson’s initial absence from a midday committee session and a presentation from Kristen Chugala, division chief of victim services at the Attorney General’s Office, who answered senators’ questions about the board’s role, funding and operations.

The Crime Victims Compensation Board reimburses Kansas residents for out-of-pocket costs arising from violent crime, including medical and counseling expenses, funeral costs, lost wages and emergency relocation, Chugala told the committee. "We do serve as the state compensation program," Chugala said, describing the office’s role in processing applications and making payments to providers when bills remain outstanding.

Committee members asked about Dickinson’s absence at the first hearing; Chugala said the committee had notified the office only the same week and that Dickinson had been unable to rearrange a business meeting earlier in the day. Dickinson later appeared at the committee’s reconvened session and described her service: "I have been serving one term on the Crime Victims Compensation Board," she said, noting her prior 14 years as a victim advocate at the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment in Topeka and Shawnee County.

Senators also questioned staff about the board’s recent caseload and funding. Chugala told the committee that the program's annual disbursements have "hovered around $2,500,000.0 each year for the last several years," and that the program is funded through fines and fees paid by offenders rather than the State General Fund. She said recent legislative changes expanded eligibility and increased some caps, and that staff have been working to speed processing and reduce application barriers.

Several senators expressed a desire to speak directly with Dickinson before making a recommendation. After Dickinson’s in-person remarks and a period of questions in which she credited staff preparation and her advocacy experience as qualifications for continued service, a motion to recommend her appointment to the full Senate was made and seconded. The committee chair called for the ayes and the motion carried by voice vote; the transcript records the motion as carried but does not record a numeric roll-call tally.

The committee clerk noted that the nomination was received in January and that background-review procedures differ for this appointment. The committee advanced the nomination to the full Senate; the chair said a floor vote may be scheduled as soon as the following day.

Votes at a glance: the committee voted to forward Rebecca Dickinson’s appointment to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation (motion carried by voice vote; counts not specified in the committee transcript).