Kahle plan to expand Michigan's crime victims fund, increase payouts signed into law

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed expansions to Michigan's crime victim compensation fund, which ranks worst in the nation for application rates, according to the Alliance for Safety and Justice.

One of the two bills was sponsored by state Rep. Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian. Rep. Bradley Slagh, R-Zeeland, sponsored the other bill.

Victims and their families can apply to the crime victim compensation fund to get financial support to cover things like funeral costs and medical bills after a crime. Hurdles in the state's laws contributed to the ranking, according to the Alliance for Safety and Justice.

The old law's eligibility included requirements like reporting the crime to police within 48 hours, which supporters of the new laws said isn't always possible for individuals after a traumatic event.

Michigan has taken steps to fix a problem in the law that has left victims of crimes and their loved ones without access to resources in the aftermath of a crime, the Alliance for Safety and Justice said in a news release Thursday.

“I’m pleased that state law now recognizes the emotional toll that a crime takes on a victim’s life long after physical wounds have healed,” Kahle said during a speech to her colleagues on the House floor. “We can’t undo the trauma that survivors have endured, but now we are ensuring that they have the support they need to heal.”

Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release from the governor's office Thursday, "without proper resources and assistance, those who survive a crime may never recover."

With bipartisan support, the Legislature voted through changes including cutting out the 48-hour rule and extending the time to apply to the fund after a crime from one year to five years.

Those who were the victims of criminal sexual conduct before the age of 18 used to have until their 19th birthday to make a claim, but the new laws will cap the age at 28 if the victim has a reason for the delay.

The maximum claimants can get from the fund after a crime increased from $25,000 to $45,000 under the new laws and reimbursements for funeral expenses increased from $5,000 to $8,000.

The new law also requires a claimant to repay an award for an expense covered under the act if they received payment from a person who committed the crime, insurance or other public funds not including disability or death benefits paid to a police or corrections employee.

The changes go into effect in August 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Kahle plan to expand Michigan's crime victims fund signed into law