7870 Victim Compensation/Government Claims Bd
Mission Statement

Effective July 1, 2013, the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 2012 creates the Government Operations Agency and, as part of the plan, moves the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) (previously budgeted within the State and Consumer Services Agency under Organization Code 1870) to this new Government Operations Agency.

The governing body of the VCGCB consists of three members: the Secretary of the Government Operations Agency who serves as the chair, the State Controller, and a public member appointed by the Governor. The VCGCB provides responsive financial compensation to remedy the financial burdens of victims of crime through a stable Restitution Fund, and for those with claims against the state, an opportunity to resolve those claims or proceed with other remedies. The primary objectives of the VCGCB are to:

  • Compensate victims of violent crime and eligible family members for certain crime-related financial losses.
  • Review and act upon civil claims against the state for money or damages.
  • Resolve bid protests with respect to the awarding of state contracts for the procurement of goods and services.
  • Provide for reimbursement of counties' expenditures for special elections called for by the Governor to fill vacant seats in the Legislature and Congress.
  • Determine the eligibility of individuals for compensation for pecuniary injury sustained through erroneous conviction and imprisonment.
  • Process claims for the Missing Children Reward Program to assist local law enforcement agencies or other parties involved in the identification and recovery of missing children in California.
  • Assist with the administration of the California State Employees Charitable Campaign.
  • Process claims through the Good Samaritan Program to private citizens who are injured rescuing another person, preventing a crime, or assisting a law enforcement officer.