California Victim Compensation Board

Legislative Update

July 17, 2025

AB 379 (Schultz) Survivor Support Fund

This bill would require CalVCB to award grants to community-based organizations that are led by survivors of sex trafficking or that are guided by substantial survivor input and that provide direct services to vulnerable individuals in areas with a high concentration of sex trafficking. Grants would be funded from the Survivor Support Fund, a new fund that is created by the bill. The bill also would create a new fine of $1,000 for certain crimes of solicitation of prostitution and loitering with intent to solicit, and it would require those fines to be deposited in the Survivor Support Fund. It would also require Cal OES to administer a grant to provide funding to county district attorney offices for the prosecution of human trafficking crimes. The bill would make other changes to criminal laws related to prostitution and human trafficking.

Status: In the Senate Appropriations Committee

AB 938 (Bonta) Criminal Procedure: Sentencing

This bill would expand affirmative defenses and vacatur relief eligibility for a person who committed an offense while they were the victim of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence. As any additional individuals who have their sentences vacated as a result of the bill would also have any imposed restitution vacated, it may result in a decrease in restitution collections. The bill states that any unpaid restitution, fines, or fees vacated shall not affect eligibility for compensation from CalVCB. However, unpaid restitution currently is not an eligibility factor.

Status: Scheduled to be heard in the Senate Public Safety Committee on July 8

AB 1100 (Sharp-Collins) Victim Compensation

This bill would make changes to victim compensation statutes. The bill would eliminate involvement in the events leading to the qualifying crime and lack of cooperation with law enforcement as reasons for denial of an application. It would expand the forms of evidence that can verify a qualifying crime in lieu of a police report and prevent CalVCB from seeking other information about eligibility from third parties if one of those forms of evidence is submitted. It would remove the prohibition against compensation of a claimant while they are on parole, probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision, or required to register as a sex offender. It would also expand compensation for income loss to include individuals who were not employed at the time of the crime and guarantee a minimum level of compensation based on working 35 hours per week at minimum wage.

Status: Held on the Suspense File in the Assembly Appropriations Committee

SB 490 (Umberg) Erroneous Conviction Claims

This bill would make changes to the process for considering the claims for compensation of erroneously convicted individuals. The bill would provide the Attorney General and district attorneys with additional time to file an objection to compensation of a claimant and allow them to rely on evidence solely in the trial record. It would also prohibit compensation to those currently serving a sentence for another serious or violent felony and require claimants to pay any outstanding restitution orders before being awarded compensation.

Status: Held in the Senate Public Safety Committee

SB 101 (Wiener) Budget Act of 2025

This bill enacts the 2025 Budget. It includes a reappropriation of Trauma Recovery Center grant funds to be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2026.

Status: Signed by the Governor (Chapter 4, Statutes of 2025)

SB 470 (Laird) Bagley Keene: Open Meeting Act: Teleconferencing

This bill would extend the January 1, 2026, sunset date on current provisions governing the use of teleconferencing for public meetings by a state body until January 1, 2030.

Status: In the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee

AB 1213 (Stefani) Restitution Priority

This bill would provide that a restitution order shall be paid before all fines, restitution fines, penalty assessments, and other fees imposed on a criminal defendant.

Status: On the Senate Floor

H.R. 909 (Wagner) Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025

This federal legislation would redirect any leftover, unobligated funds collected under the False Claims Act to the Crime Victims Fund through Federal Fiscal Year 2029.

Status:In the House Committee on the Judiciary