LRB-2568/2
PJH:eev:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
November 22, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Goyke, Wright, Barnes,
Kahl, A. Ott, Kleefisch, Richards, Pasch, Hulsey, Danou, Mason, Milroy,
Berceau, Sinicki, Genrich, Hebl, Pope, Zamarripa, Vruwink, Ohnstad,
Ringhand, Clark, Wachs, Jorgensen, C. Taylor, Johnson and Riemer,
cosponsored by Senators Lassa, L. Taylor, Harris, Schultz, Risser, Lehman,
Shilling, Wirch and Erpenbach. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice.
AB518,1,3 1An Act to amend 949.08 (1); and to create 949.06 (1) (am), 949.08 (1m) and
2949.175 of the statutes; relating to: awards for the victims of crimes and
3making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person who is the victim of a crime or a close relative of
a victim of a crime may receive compensation for certain losses he or she suffers as
a result of the crime, including payment for medical treatment, replacement of lost
or damaged property, and certain economic losses, including loss of income that
occurs as a result of the crime. Under current law, a person may apply, within one
year after the crime occurs, to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for an award if the
person reported the crime to law enforcement within five days after the crime
occurred. Current law allows DOJ to grant an award after the one-year deadline for
application has passed in the interest of justice.
Under current law, DOJ may award up to $40,000 per injury or death and
generally makes the payment in one lump sum. However, DOJ may make periodic
payments in the case of a death or protracted disability.
Under this bill, a person who is a victim of certain sexual assault crimes,
including sexual assault against a child and human trafficking, may apply for an
award for compensation from DOJ for the payment of mental health services for as
long as the crime committed against him or her is prosecutable under the applicable
statutes of limitation.
Under the bill, DOJ may close its accounts relating to any victim to whom DOJ
has granted a compensation award if four years have passed since the time DOJ

made a payment to or on behalf of the victim and DOJ determines, after consulting
with the victim, that no further payments or services are warranted.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB518,1 1Section 1. 949.06 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB518,2,22 949.06 (1) (am) Mental health treatment.
AB518,2 3Section 2. 949.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB518,2,114 949.08 (1) No Except as provided in sub. (1m), no order for the payment of an
5award may be made unless the application was made within 1 year after the date of
6the personal injury or death, and the personal injury or death was the result of an
7incident or offense which had been reported to the police within 5 days of its
8occurrence or, if the incident or offense could not reasonably have been reported
9within such period, within 5 days of the time when a report could reasonably have
10been made. The department may waive the one-year requirement under this
11subsection in the interest of justice.
AB518,3 12Section 3. 949.08 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB518,2,1813 949.08 (1m) The department may grant an award for mental health treatment
14related to a personal injury or death that results from the commission or the attempt
15to commit any crime specified in s. 940.225, 940.302 (2), 948.02, 948.025, 948.05,
16948.051, 948.06, 948.085, 948.09, or 948.095 if the department receives the
17application for an award at any time during which the crime may be prosecuted
18pursuant to s. 939.74.
AB518,4 19Section 4. 949.175 of the statutes is created to read:
AB518,3,3
1949.175 Closing accounts. The department may close any account relating
2to an award granted to or on behalf of a victim under this subchapter if all of the
3following apply:
AB518,3,5 4(1) Four years have passed from the date on which the department last made
5a payment to or on behalf of the victim.
AB518,3,7 6(2) The department has given written notice to the victim that it intends to
7close the account and allows the victim an opportunity to object.
AB518,3,10 8(3) The department determines that all appropriate payments have been
9made. Whenever possible, the department shall confer with the victim before making
10this determination.
AB518,5 11Section 5. Fiscal changes.
AB518,3,2212 (1) Victim services. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for
13the appropriation to the department of justice under section 20.455 (5) (b) of the
14statutes, as affected by the acts of 2013, the dollar amount is increased by $50,000
15for the first fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to
16provide compensation for mental health services to victims of sexual assault or
17human trafficking. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the
18appropriation to the department of justice under section 20.455 (5) (b) of the statutes,
19as affected by the acts of 2013, the dollar amount is increased by $50,000 for the
20second fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to
21provide compensation for mental health services to victims of sexual assault or
22human trafficking.
AB518,6 23Section 6. Initial applicability.
AB518,4,2
1(1) The treatment of section 949.08 (1) and (1m) of the statutes first applies to
2applications that are made on the effective date of this subsection.
AB518,4,33 (End)
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