AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

HB 5974 expands eligibility for the state's crime victim compensation program to include victims of hit-and-run incidents that cause serious bodily injury or death. The bill amends existing law to explicitly add "failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in serious bodily injury or death" as a qualifying offense under the program. This means victims of such hit-and-run accidents, who previously might not have been covered, can now apply for financial assistance through the compensation program. The change directly affects individuals injured or killed in hit-and-run crashes where the driver fled the scene.