Bill would help disabled victims in repaying the state

OLYMPIA – After falling victim to a tragedy, many people receive money from the state to cover their medical costs and lost wages. Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, is proposing a bill to ensure that disabled victims no longer are placed in a bind when asked to pay back the money at a later date.

Senate Bill 5394 would exempt a victim who has been fully or partially permanently disabled, or has died, from having to pay back funds that were received from the state to compensate for an injury. This would only occur after the victim has recovered payment from insurance companies. Those who do not collect from insurance companies would not be affected by this bill.

A hearing will be held by the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee tomorrow, Jan. 25, on Washington’s Crime Victim’s Compensation Program beginning at 8a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 1 in the John A. Cherberg Building. Rockefeller will be available for interviews to discuss the details of his bill and how the issue was brought to his attention by one of his constituents.

Dr. Ernie Franz, the victim who inspired this bill, will testify at the hearing. He will also be available for interviews. Franz was an emergency room physician who helped treat more than 50,000 patients until he was hit by a teen drunken driver, leaving him with severely debilitating injuries. After hearing about Dr. Franz’s inability to return to his professional livelihood, Sen. Rockefeller felt compelled to introduce this piece of legislation.

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