Committee backs resolution supporting SB 299 to expand victim compensation access for police‑use‑of‑force survivors

The committee on April 22 recommended a resolution supporting California Senate Bill 299 to the full Board after hearing presentations from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, victims’ advocates and California-based advocacy groups.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin described a local policy his office implemented to provide victim services and limited financial assistance to survivors of police use of force and said SB 299 would replicate those protections statewide by ensuring that the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) can act as a payer-of-last-resort for expenses such as medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and mental-health care in cases involving police use of force. The DA reported one local funeral/burial reimbursement to a family in the amount of $7,500 as an example of the kind of stopgap support CalVCB can provide.

Anthony DeMartino of Californians for Safety and Justice described how current CalVCB rules can bar victims of police violence from compensation if a police report is missing or if survivors are categorized as non‑cooperative; SB 299 would allow alternative documentation and bar denials based solely on police-report content in police-use-of-force cases. Supporters argued the change would help ensure equitable relief for survivors across counties, particularly when officers are not charged or a police report is incomplete.

Public comment included survivors, victim‑service advocates and community members urging support; the committee voted to forward the resolution with a positive recommendation (three ayes).