Relating to a Mass Violence Care Fund to assist victims of mass violence with unreimbursed medical expenses.
HB 5644 would create a new Mass Violence Care Fund within the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund to help victims of mass violence pay unreimbursed medical expenses. The bill defines a mass violence event as an intentional criminal act causing physical injury to three or more people in a public space, and it defines eligible victims broadly to include those physically present and certain family members of those injured or killed. The fund would be administered by the Office of the Texas Attorney General, with the Texas Comptroller managing investments and the Attorney General adopting rules for applications, eligibility, and disbursements.
The bill is structured to make the fund permanent and non-reverting, with principal preserved and only investment earnings used for reimbursements. It also requires annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature, creates an advisory board with victim services, public safety, and health agency representation, and sets an implementation deadline of one year after enactment. The bill would take effect September 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 5644 would amend Chapter 56B of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure by adding a new article establishing a dedicated funding mechanism for mass violence victims. It would expand the state’s victim compensation framework by creating a separate, investment-backed fund for medical reimbursements tied to mass violence incidents, while leaving the principal intact and limiting payouts to accrued earnings. The bill would also assign new administrative and reporting duties to the Attorney General, the Comptroller, and an advisory board, affecting how victim compensation resources are managed and distributed in Texas.
The available context suggests generally supportive intent, with the bill framed as a victim-assistance measure aimed at helping people harmed by mass violence recover unreimbursed medical costs. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, and the bill was referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Because no debate record is included, the overall sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s purpose and structure, which emphasize long-term support, financial sustainability, and victim services.
The bill’s main potential points of contention are the funding model, eligibility rules, and administrative complexity. Because the fund relies on appropriations, donations, and investment earnings while preserving principal, lawmakers could question whether the fund would generate enough money to meet needs or whether it would compete with other state priorities. The bill also gives the Attorney General and Comptroller significant discretion over rules, thresholds, and reimbursement limits, which could raise concerns about how broadly victims are covered, when reimbursements begin, and whether the program would be easy to access. No specific opposition or support was recorded in the provided discussion materials.