Establishing an office of the crime victims ombuds.

HB 1945 creates an independent office of the crime victims ombuds to advocate for individuals impacted by crime. The office will be operated by a private, nonprofit organization selected through a competitive bidding process by the Department of Commerce, not as a state agency. Key duties include referring victims to appropriate services, investigating complaints about justice system failures, protecting victim confidentiality, and monitoring service delivery procedures. The office expires July 1, 2027, and operates outside existing state government structures.