Chapter 5.5. Indemnification Of Citizens Benefiting The Public of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 5.5.

Direct action on the part of private citizens in preventing the commission of crimes against the person or property of others, or in apprehending criminals, or rescuing a person in immediate danger of injury or death as a result of fire, drowning, or other catastrophe, benefits the entire public. In recognition of the public purpose served, the state may indemnify such citizens, their surviving spouses, their surviving children, and any persons dependent upon such citizens for their principal support in appropriate cases for any injury, death, or damage sustained by such citizens, their surviving spouses, their surviving children, and any persons dependent upon such citizens for their principal support as a direct consequence of such meritorious action to the extent that they are not compensated for the injury, death, or damage from any other source. A claim shall be denied if an award has been made under Article 1 (commencing with Section 13960) of this chapter for the same incident.

As used in this article, "private citizen" means any person other than a peace officer, fireman, lifeguard, or person whose employment includes the duty to protect the public safety acting within the course and scope of such employment.

(a) If a private citizen incurs personal injury or death or damage to his or her property in preventing the commission of a crime against the person or property of another, in apprehending a criminal, or in materially assisting a peace officer in prevention of a crime or apprehension of a criminal, or rescuing a person in immediate danger of injury or death as a result of fire, drowning, or other catastrophe, the private citizen, his or her surviving spouse, his or her surviving children, a person dependent upon the citizen for his or her principal support, any person legally liable for the citizen's pecuniary losses, or a public safety or law enforcement agency acting on behalf of any of the above may file a claim with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for indemnification to the extent that the claimant is not compensated from any other source for the injury, death, or damage. The claim shall generally show all of the following:
  (1) The date, place, and other circumstances of the occurrence or events that gave rise to the claim.
  (2) A general description of the activities of the private citizen in prevention of a crime, apprehension of a criminal, or rescuing a person in immediate danger of injury or death as a result of fire, drowning, or other catastrophe.
  (3) The amount or estimated amount of the injury, death, or damage sustained for which the claimant is not compensated from any other source, insofar as it may be known at the time of the presentation of the claim.
  (4) Any other information that the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board may require.
  (b) A claim filed under subdivision (a) shall be accompanied by a corroborating statement and recommendation from the appropriate state or local public safety or law enforcement agency.

(a) Upon presentation of a claim pursuant to this chapter, the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, and shall mail notices of the hearing to interested persons or agencies. The board shall receive recommendations from public safety or law enforcement agencies, and evidence showing all of the following:
  (1) The nature of the crime committed by the apprehended criminal or prevented by the action of the private citizen, or the nature of the action of the private citizen in rescuing a person in immediate danger of injury or death as a result of fire, drowning, or other catastrophe, and the circumstances involved.
  (2) That the actions of the private citizen substantially and materially contributed to the apprehension of a criminal, the prevention of a crime, or the rescuing of a person in immediate danger of injury or death as a result of fire, drowning, or other catastrophe.
  (3) That, as a direct consequence, the private citizen incurred personal injury or damage to property or died.
  (4) The extent of the injury or damage for which the claimant is not compensated from any other source.
  (5) Any other evidence that the board may require.
  (b) If the board determines, on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence, that the state should indemnify the claimant for the injury, death, or damage sustained, it shall approve the claim for payment. In no event shall a claim be approved by the board under this article in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
  (c) In addition to any award made under this chapter, the board may award, as attorney's fees, an amount representing the reasonable value of legal services rendered a claimant, but in no event to exceed 10 percent of the amount of the award. No attorney shall charge, demand, receive, or collect for services rendered in connection with any proceedings under this chapter any amount other than that awarded as attorney's fees under this section. Claims approved under this chapter shall be paid from a separate appropriation made to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board in the Budget Act and as the claims are approved by the board.

The California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board is hereby authorized to make all needful rules and regulations consistent with the law for the purpose of carrying into effect this article.

(a) The California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board shall use the applicable provisions of this article to establish a claim and reward procedure to reward persons providing information leading to the location of any child listed in the missing children registry compiled pursuant to former Section 11114 of the Penal Code or maintained pursuant to the system maintained pursuant to Sections 14203 and 14204 of the Penal Code.
  (b) Awards shall be made upon recommendation of the Department of Justice in an amount of not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) to any one individual. However, as a condition to an award, in any particular case, an amount equal to or greater in nonstate funds shall have been first offered as a reward for information leading to the location of that missing child.
  (c) The Missing Children Reward Fund is abolished and any remaining balance is transferred to the Restitution Fund. The California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board shall make awards pursuant to this section from the Restitution Fund, using the appropriation authority provided in Section 13964.

Any reference to Article 2 (commencing with Section 13970) of Chapter 5, as it read on December 31, 2002, shall be construed to refer to this chapter.