TRENTON — Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer, Hunterdon) issued the following statement in regards to Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of legislation…
S1893
The bill provides a minimal Increase in Home Energy Assistance to Prevent Low-Income Families from Losing Additional Food Stamp Benefits…
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and John Girgenti to allow innocent victims of violent crimes to receive state compensation benefits – for mental health counseling, medical bill coverage and relocation costs, for example – more than five years after their initial claim for benefits has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.
The law (A-2372/S-1893) is intended to assist victims who have legitimate reasons to require services more than five years after their initial claim for benefits from the state Victims of Crime Compensation Office, which provides compensation to victims of violent crime for some expenses they suffer as a result of the crime. Currently, victims and their families may only receive compensation for five years, with the clock starting at the time of their first payment.
The law gives the VCCO the ability to authorize benefits beyond the five-year limitation when certain compelling circumstances exist.
“Victims of violent crime have faced the kind of horrifying ordeals that many of us couldn’t even begin to imagine,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “If special circumstances warrant the coverage of benefits beyond the current five-year limitation, then we should do everything in our power to provide them. On a very basic level, this is about having compassion for our fellow citizens.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and John Girgenti to allow innocent victims of violent crimes to receive state compensation benefits – for mental health counseling, medical bill coverage and relocation costs, for example – more than five years after their initial claim for benefits has received final legislative approval. It now heads to the desk of Governor Chris Christie.
The legislation (S-1893) is intended to assist victims who have legitimate reasons to require services more than five years after their initial claim for benefits from the state Victims of Crime Compensation Office, which provides compensation to victims of violent crime for some expenses they suffer as a result of the crime. Currently, victims and their families may only receive compensation for five years, with the clock starting at the time of their first payment.