LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6528 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 11, 2024
BILL NUMBER: SB 155 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Funeral Assistance for Minor Victims of Crime.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Randolph Lonnie M BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: GENERAL IMPACT: State
XDEDICATED
XFEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: The bill increases the amount of an allowable claim from the Violent Crime
Victims Compensation Fund for funeral, burial, or cremation to $10,000 if the victim is a minor (currently
limited to $5,000).
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Expenditures could increase from the Violent Crime Victims
Compensation Fund to reimburse up to $10,000 of documented funeral, burial, or cremation expenses for
victims of violent crimes that are less than 18 years old (currently capped at $5,000). The following table
displays the amounts paid out from FY 2019 to FY 2023 by the Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Although
allowable amounts for claims could potentially double, the average amount currently paid for these claims
($4,366) is less than the statutory cap, suggesting that the impact of the bill could be minimal. Additionally,
the ICJI states that they do not use money from this fund to pay claims for funeral expenses. These claims
are paid out of a separate fund which receives federal grant money from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
FY 2019 to FY 2023 Funeral Claims Paid for Victims Under Age 18
Fiscal Year Number of Claims Amount Paid
FY 2019 16 $70,144
FY 2020 2 $6,553
FY 2021 6 $29,000
FY 2022 13 $58,903
FY 2023 3 $10,038
Additional Information: The Violent Crime Victims Compensation Fund receives money from court fees,
General Fund appropriations, and portions of DOC offender earnings, punitive damages, and restitution
orders.
SB 155 1 Explanation of State Revenues: Annual federal VOCA grants to states for victim compensation are based
on 75% of the amount of state funds that were awarded in victim compensation payments two fiscal years
prior. The ICJI currently pays funeral expenses from federal VOCA funds. If the ICJI were to receive
additional appropriations to use state funds to pay claims for funeral expenses, federal funding could
increase.
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Local Agencies Affected:
Information Sources: State Comptroller’s data; Indiana Criminal Justice Institute; U.S. Department of
Justice; Office of Justice Programs-Office for Victims of Crime:
https://ovc.ojp.gov/states/indiana;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/states/vc-fy-2020-indiana-annual-report.pdf;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/states/vc-fy-2021-indiana-annual-report.pdf;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/states/vc-fy-2022-indiana-annual-report.pdf;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/states/vc-fy-2023-indiana-annual-report.pdf;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/media/document/vc-fy-19-indiana-annual-report-508.pdf;
https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/media/document/fy-2019-voca-compensation-performance-report.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Heather Puletz, 317-234-9484.
SB 155 2