Senate Bill 873 Summary

• Amends the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim's Rights Act to expand the definition of "victim" to include entities harmed by a defendant's "course of conduct" rather than just "commission of a crime," applying to both adult and juvenile offenders.

• Modifies restitution requirements to allow courts to order payment to those entitled to inherit a victim's estate when the victim is deceased, and clarifies that restitution orders apply even when cases are resolved through delayed sentences, youthful trainee status, or other non-acquittal dispositions.

• Adds new mandatory restitution provisions for human trafficking offenses under Chapter LXVIIA of the Michigan Penal Code, requiring defendants to pay lost income, transportation costs, temporary housing, child care, attorney fees, and other victim-related expenses.

• Changes payment allocation rules so that 50% of collected payments go to victim restitution first, with the remainder applied to fines, costs, and other assessments, prioritizing victim compensation.

• Repeals sections 16b and 80 of the prior act and becomes effective 90 days after enactment, contingent upon passage of companion bills SB 874, 875, 876, and 877.