Settlement agreements: victims’ compensation funding

Victims eligible for locally funded compensation or financial assistance can enforce qualifying settlement agreements even when no civil lawsuit is pending. The law took effect immediately.

What the law does ​

• Allows court enforcement of a settlement resolving a tort claim against a local public entity when the claimant has not filed suit or voluntarily withdrew the suit.
• Limits this process to claims eligible for a local victims’ compensation fund or other local victim-related financial assistance program.
• Requires a written agreement signed by the claimant and the local public entity or its authorized representative that expressly says it is enforceable under this law.

Who it affects ​

• Claimants settling tort claims against local public entities.
• Local public entities that operate victims’ compensation funds or other victim-related financial assistance programs.

Context ​

The measure is an urgency law effective immediately.