It shall be the duty of the department to assist persons who are victims of crime.

1. (1) The department shall:

   1. (a) Establish and maintain an office in Tallahassee and prescribe the duties of the employees of the Crime Victims' Services Office.
   2. (b) Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter.
   3. (c) Render, prior to January 1 of each year, to the presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives a written report of the activities of the Crime Victims' Services Office.
   4. (d) Authorize other units within the department to assist in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
2. (2) The department shall provide the Crime Victims' Services Office with legal representation relative to its duties and responsibilities under this chapter.
3. (3) The department shall have a criminal history record check performed through the Florida Crime Information Center system on any victim or other claimant on whose behalf an award is sought under ss. 960.01-960.28.
4. (4) The department shall establish criteria governing awards for catastrophic injury as a direct result of a crime.

History.--s. 1, ch. 77-452; s. 306, ch. 79-400; s. 6, ch. 80-146; s. 506, ch. 81-259; s. 4, ch. 85-326; s. 4, ch. 91-23; s. 5, ch. 92-107; s. 229, ch. 98-200; s. 10, ch. 99-373; s. 19, ch. 2000-155.

Note.--Former s. 960.06.