HB 21-1165 Summary

• Defines "assault by strangulation" in Colorado crime victim compensation law as assault under sections 18-3-202(1)(g) or 18-3-203(1)(i).

• Crime victim compensation funds shall pay the costs of medical forensic examinations for strangulation victims not covered by other sources.

• Encourages medical providers and victim advocacy organizations to apply for crime victim compensation on victims' behalf before they receive bills, recognizing compensation funds as payers of last resort.

• Allows strangulation victims who undergo medical forensic examinations to satisfy law enforcement cooperation requirements for crime victim compensation eligibility, without requiring full cooperation in apprehension and prosecution.

• District crime victim compensation boards should not consider whether examinations were performed by trained forensic medical examiners when awarding compensation to strangulation victims.