Chapter 949

949.165(2) (2) Payment to and establishment of escrow accounts. Every person or other legal entity contracting with any person, or the representative or assignee of any person, accused or convicted of a serious crime in this state, with respect to the reenactment of the serious crime, by a movie, book, magazine article, tape recording, phonograph record, radio or television presentation or live entertainment of any kind, or from the expression of the accused or convicted person’s thoughts, feelings, opinions or emotions regarding the serious crime, shall submit a copy of the contract to the department and pay over to the department any moneys which would otherwise, by terms of the contract, be owing to the person so accused or convicted or his or her representatives. This subsection applies only if the reenactment of the serious crime constitutes a substantial portion of the movie, book, article, recording, record, presentation, entertainment or expression. The department shall deposit the moneys in an interest-bearing escrow account for the payment of money judgments to any victim or the legal representative of any victim of serious crimes committed by:

949.165(2)(a) (a) The convicted person; or

949.165(2)(b) (b) The accused person, but only if the accused person is eventually convicted of the serious crime charged.

949.165(3) (3) Notice to potential claimants. The department, at least once every 6 months for 3 years from the date it receives the moneys, shall cause to have published a legal notice in newspapers of general circulation in the county in which the serious crime was committed advising the victims that the escrow moneys are available to satisfy money judgments under this section. The department may provide for additional notice. When the department is reasonably satisfied that all victims have received actual notice, the department may cease to provide the notice required under this subsection.

949.165(4) (4) Priority of payments.

949.165(4)(a) (a) Claims on moneys in an escrow account have the following priority:

949.165(4)(a)1. 1. First priority for legal representation payments under sub. (5).

949.165(4)(a)2. 2. Second priority for payments to satisfy money judgments under sub. (6).

949.165(4)(a)3. 3. Third priority for reimbursement, recoupment and restitution payments under sub. (7).

949.165(4)(b) (b) The department shall make payments from escrow accounts in accordance with the priority schedule under par. (a). The department may make payments at any time from an escrow account, except that no payment may be made for a claim if there is another existing or pending claim entitled to a higher priority.

949.165(4)(c) (c) If the amount of claims for the same priority exceeds the amount of moneys available in an escrow account, the department may prorate the payments.

949.165(5) (5) First priority payments; legal representation. The department shall make payments from an escrow account to a person charged with a serious crime upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction after a showing by the person that the moneys shall be used for the exclusive purpose of his or her legal representation in a criminal action or in the defense of a civil action.

949.165(6) (6) Second priority payments; satisfaction of money judgments.

949.165(6)(a) (a) The department shall make payments to victims or legal representatives of victims of serious crimes who have obtained money judgments against the accused or convicted person. The victim or legal representative of the victim shall bring a civil action and obtain a money judgment. The victim shall then file a claim with the department for payment.

949.165(6)(b) (b) In the case of death of the victim, one or more dependents may obtain a payment under this section in the same manner as a victim. If 2 or more dependents are entitled to payments under this subsection, the department shall apportion the payments among the dependents.

949.165(6)(c) (c) If the state is subrogated to a cause of action under s. 949.15, the state may seek reimbursement under this subsection. If the judgment is apportioned under s. 949.15 (3), the payments under this subsection shall be prorated accordingly.

949.165(6)(d) (d) The victim or the legal representative of a victim shall notify the department when he or she brings the action described in par. (a), but failure to notify under this paragraph does not bar any payment from an escrow account.

949.165(7) (7) Third priority payments; legal fees and restitution. The department shall make payments from an escrow account for any governmental entity for the reimbursement for or recoupment of the costs of legal representation of the person charged with the serious crime or for any unpaid restitution under s. 973.20. The governmental entity shall file a claim for the applicable amount with the department.

949.165(8) (8) Payment to accused or convicted person. If either of the following conditions occur, the department shall pay all of the remaining moneys in an escrow account to the accused or convicted person:

949.165(8)(a) (a) The charges against the person are dismissed with prejudice or the person is found not guilty of the serious crime charged.

949.165(8)(b) (b) Three years have elapsed from the date of the establishment of the escrow account and no civil actions seeking money judgments, unsatisfied money judgments or claims under this section are pending against the defendant in this state.

949.165(9) (9) Interpleader. If a court determines that a person accused of a serious crime is incompetent to proceed under s. 971.14 or if the charges are dismissed without prejudice, the department shall bring an action of interpleader to determine the disposition of the escrow account.

949.165(10) (10) Statute of limitations. If an escrow account is established under this section, no otherwise applicable statute of limitations on the time within which a civil action may be brought bars an action by a victim of a serious crime committed by a person accused or convicted of the serious crime as to a claim resulting from the serious crime until 3 years have elapsed from the time the escrow account was established.

949.165(11) (11) Act to defeat purpose; void. Any act by any person accused or convicted of a serious crime, whether by execution of a power of attorney, creation of corporate entities or otherwise, to defeat the purpose of this section shall be void as against the public policy of this state.

949.165(12) (12) Payment is not an award. Any payment from an escrow account under this section shall not be considered as an award by the department under this subchapter.

949.165(13) (13) Applicability. This section applies only to contracts which are entered into on or after May 18, 1985.

949.165(14) (14) Penalty. Any person who violates sub. (2) shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both.

949.165 History History: 1983 a. 467; 1987 a. 398; 2007 a. 20.

949.17 949.17 Offenses.

949.17(1) (1) Prohibition. In connection with the crime victim compensation program, no person may:

949.17(1)(a) (a) Submit a fraudulent application or claim for an award;

949.17(1)(b) (b) Intentionally make or cause to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact; or

949.17(1)(c) (c) Intentionally conceal or fail to disclose information affecting the amount of or the initial or continued right to any such award when reasonably requested to provide such information by the department.

949.17(2) (2) Penalties. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. The person shall further forfeit any benefit received and shall reimburse the state for payments received or paid to or on behalf of the person.

949.17(3) (3) Damages. The state has a civil cause of action for relief against any person who violates this section for the amount of damages which the state sustained by reason of the violation and, in addition, for punitive damages not more than double the amount of damages which the state may have sustained, together with interest, and the cost of the suit.

949.17(4) (4) Action. The attorney general may bring any action and has such powers as may be necessary to enforce this section.

949.17 History History: 1975 c. 344, 421; 1981 c. 20.

949.18 949.18 Report by the department. The department’s biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) shall include a report of its activities under this subchapter including:

949.18(1) (1) An explanation of the procedures for filing and processing claims under this subchapter.

949.18(2) (2) A description of the programs and policies instituted to promote public awareness about crime victim compensation.

949.18(3) (3) An analysis of future needs and suggested program improvements.

949.18(4) (4) A copy of the forms utilized under this subchapter.

949.18(5) (5) A complete statistical analysis of the cases handled under this subchapter, including:

949.18(5)(a) (a) The number of claims filed.

949.18(5)(b) (b) The number of claims approved and the amount of each award.

949.18(5)(c) (c) The number of claims denied and the reasons for rejection.

949.18(5)(d) (d) A breakdown of claims by geographic area, month, age and sex of victim, type of crime committed and other relevant facts.

949.18(5)(e) (e) A summary of cases handled under this subchapter.

949.18(6) (6) The status of existing escrow accounts under s. 949.165.

949.18 History History: 1975 c. 344; 1979 c. 189; 1983 a. 467, 524, 538; 2007 a. 20.

subch. II of ch. 949 SUBCHAPTER II

SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC
EXAMINATION COMPENSATION

949.20 949.20 Definitions. In this subchapter:

949.20(1) (1) “Cooperate with a law enforcement agency” means to report a sex offense to a law enforcement agency or to aid a law enforcement agency in the investigation of a sex offense.

949.20(2) (2) “Department” means the department of justice.

949.20(3) (3) “Examination costs” means the costs of an examination that is done to gather evidence regarding a sex offense, any procedure during that examination process that tests for or prevents a sexually transmitted disease, and any medication provided or prescribed, during that examination process, that prevents or treats a sexually transmitted disease that the person performing the examination or procedure believes could be a consequence of the sex offense. “Examination costs” does not include any processing or administrative costs, attorney fees, or other expenses.

949.20(4) (4) “Guardian of the victim” means one of the following:

949.20(4)(a) (a) If the victim is under 18 years of age, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the victim.

949.20(4)(b) (b) If the victim has been determined to be incompetent under ch. 54, the guardian of the victim.

949.20(5) (5) “Health care provider” means any person providing health care services.

949.20(6) (6) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).

949.20(7) (7) “Sex offense” means an act committed in the state that, if committed by a competent adult, would be a violation, or an attempted violation, of s. 940.225, 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.06, 948.08, or 948.09.

949.20(8) (8) “Sexually transmitted disease” has the meaning given in s. 252.11 (1).

949.20(9) (9) “Victim” means a person against whom a sex offense has been committed.

949.20 History History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 180.

949.22 949.22 Administration. The department shall administer this subchapter. The department shall appoint a program director to assist in administering this subchapter. The department shall promulgate rules for the implementation and operation of this subchapter. The rules shall include procedures to ensure that any limitation of an award is calculated in a fair and equitable manner.

949.22 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.24 949.24 Application for award.

949.24(1) (1) Eligibility. Any health care provider who conducts an examination to gather evidence regarding a sex offense may apply for an award under this subchapter.

949.24(2) (2) Forms. The department shall prescribe application forms for awards under this subchapter and shall furnish health care providers with the forms.

949.24(3) (3) Medical records. An applicant shall submit to the department reports from any physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse who treated or examined the victim to gather evidence regarding a sex offense, performed any procedure during that treatment or examination that tests for or prevents a sexually transmitted disease, or provided or prescribed any medication to prevent or treat a sexually transmitted disease. The applicant may not submit to the department any other records than those pertaining to the examination, treatment, procedure, or medication for which the applicant is seeking an award.

949.24 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.26 949.26 Computation of awards.

949.26(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall make an award under this section to a health care provider who conducts an examination to gather evidence regarding a sex offense to reimburse the health care provider only for the examination costs, as follows:

949.26(1)(a) (a) If, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is not authorized to seek payment from insurance or another available source of payment, the award shall be the examination costs, regardless of whether the victim, or any guardian of the victim, cooperates with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense.

949.26(1)(b) (b) If, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is authorized to seek payment from insurance or another available source of payment and the victim, or any guardian of the victim, does not cooperate with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense, the award shall be the examination costs, reduced by any payment to be received as a result of the authorization under sub. (2) (b).

949.26(1m) (1m) The department may not make an award under this section if, under sub. (2) (b), the health care provider is authorized to seek payment and the victim, or any guardian of the victim, cooperates with a law enforcement agency.

949.26(2) (2) 

949.26(2)(a) (a) A health care provider seeking an award under this section may not seek payment for any examination costs from the victim or any guardian of the victim.

949.26(2)(b) (b) A health care provider seeking an award under this section may not seek payment for any examination costs from insurance or another available source of payment unless the victim or any guardian of the victim authorizes the health care provider to seek payment.

949.26(3) (3) The department may not refuse to make an award under this section because the victim or the guardian of the victim does not cooperate with a law enforcement agency regarding the sex offense, or due to lack of an investigation or prosecution of the sex offense.

949.26 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.28 949.28 Limitations on awards.

949.28(1) (1) No order for the payment of an award under this subchapter may be made unless the application was made within one year after the date of the examination. The department may waive the one-year requirement under this subsection in the interest of justice.

949.28(2) (2) The department may not make an award under this subchapter that exceeds the examination costs of the victim.

949.28(3) (3) The department may not make an award under this subchapter for any part of the examination costs of the victim for which the health care provider seeking the award has received compensation from any other source.

949.28 History History: 2007 a. 20.

949.31 949.31 Hearings.

949.31(1) (1) The procedure of ch. 227 for contested cases applies to hearings under this subchapter except as otherwise provided in this section and s. 949.32.