01-06-2025
Texas budget bill passes with crime victim compensation fix sparked by KXAN
AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas budget bill, following conference committee agreement, has passed the legislature and will soon head to Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. Included in Senate Bill 1 is a fix to the performance reporting process of the state's Crime Victims' Compensation Program sparked by a KXAN investigation.
EXPLORE: KXAN's Crime Victims' Compensation fund investigations
In 2022, KXAN began reporting on the impact of delayed payments by the CVC program, which is run by the Office of Attorney General. Amid that investigation, KXAN found the OAG was reporting an inaccurate picture of its performance to state officials and lawmakers.
KXAN discovered the office was using a flawed formula that mixed two different types of payments in its calculation: victim claims and sexual assault examination reimbursements, the latter of which take just days and are paid directly to hospitals. That method made it appear crime victims and their loved ones were paid much faster for items like funeral expenses and medical restitution, on average, than the months-long reality our team documented through victim interviews and related records.
After KXAN's reporting, the OAG acknowledged to lawmakers that the measurements weren't accurate. The budget bill directs the measurements be split apart, and it provides a 90-day average goal for victims' first payments.
The bill also indicates the OAG 'shall submit a report detailing the expenditure of funds' for victim assistance. That report – which is to be submitted within 100 calendar days after the close of each fiscal year to the Legislative Budget Board, governor, Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee – will include 'audit and oversight activities conducted' related to the grants, thus increasing transparency and accountability for victims under the program.
SB 1 next heads to the State Comptroller for certification. The comptroller will confirm the spending bill does not exceed the amount of revenue available. After certification, the bill heads to the governor for approval. The governor does have the power to line-item veto specific appropriations in the bill. Once signed, the bill becomes law.
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