HB5472 Summary

• Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to expand the definition of "witness" to include persons called by prosecution to establish a necessary nexus between an offender and a violent crime, beyond just those who personally observed the crime.

• Modifies the Crime Victims Compensation Act to add a new category of victim: persons called as witnesses by the prosecution to establish a necessary nexus between the offender and the violent crime, making them eligible for compensation.

• Adds definitions for "advocate," "confer," "sentence," and "sentencing" to the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to clarify victim rights and procedural terms.

• Expands "pecuniary loss" covered under victim compensation to include trafficking tattoo removal costs, relocation expenses with first month's rent and security deposit, crime scene cleanup costs, and replacement services losses up to $1,250 per month.