Victim compensation: relocation: pets.

Existing law generally provides for the compensation of victims and derivative victims of specified types of crimes by the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board from the Restitution Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, for specified losses suffered as a result of those crimes. Existing law requires a victim or derivative victim seeking compensation to have sustained one or more specified physical or emotional injuries, or pecuniary losses, as a direct result of the crime. Existing law authorizes the board to grant compensation for pecuniary loss, if it determines it will best aid the person seeking compensation, by authorizing a cash payment or reimbursement to a victim for expenses incurred in relocating, including a security deposit, if the expenses are determined by law enforcement to be necessary for the personal safety of the victim or by a mental health treatment provider to be necessary for the emotional well-being of the victim. Existing law specifies that if a security deposit is required for relocation, the board shall be named as the recipient, and receive the funds, upon expiration of the victim's rental agreement. This bill would specify, for purposes of these provisions, that "expenses incurred in relocating" may include the costs of temporary housing for any pets belonging to the victim upon immediate relocation. The bill would also authorize the cash payment or grant to reimburse a victim for a security deposit, pet deposit, or both, for which the board would be named as the recipient, and would receive the funds, upon expiration of the victim's rental agreement. By expanding the authorizations for use of moneys in the Restitution Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 13957 of the Government Code proposed by AB 629 to be operative only if this bill and AB 629 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.