Missouri Senate

Perfected

Under this act, the Department of Public Safety may receive gifts for the benefit of crime victims, which shall be credited to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.

The act provides that compensation from the fund shall not be paid to a victim injured while subject to electronic monitoring in the same manner as persons who are incarcerated or under house arrest.

Upon request, pharmacists shall submit information to the department to provide verification of victims' injuries in the same manner as other medical providers.

Also, under executive order, the Department of Public Safety makes payments to medical providers to cover the charges of the forensic examinations of sexual assault victims, rather the Department of Health. This act would reflect such transfer of responsibility in statute. This act also specifies that medical providers shall use collection procedures developed for victims who are minors when appropriate. Also, the medical provider's report of a forensic examination shall no longer be filed with the prosecuting attorney within three days.

This act provides that compensation under the crime victims' compensation fund must be for reasonable expenses, and if such expenses are medical, they must be medically necessary. It also specifies that payment for forensic examinations to medical providers must be for reasonable and medically necessary charges. Under this act, claims for forensic examination charges by medical providers must be made within 90 days. Also, for consideration of such claim by the department, the alleged sexual offense must have occurred in Missouri and the examination charges submitted must be itemized and fall within the definition of a forensic examination.

This act is similar to SB 332 (2007).

SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE