Bill Forcing Violent Offenders to Reimburse Public Health System is Passed

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The bill that holds the perpetrator of domestic violence liable to compensate the Unified Health System (SUS) for medical and hospital costs incurred in assisting the victim was approved Tuesday night, August 20th, by the Chamber of Deputies in plenary session.

The text had been approved by the Chamber but was amended during the Senate voting. Consequently, it had to be returned to new appraisal by the lower house, which rejected the Senators’ amendments. The bill now awaits presidential sanction to become law.

One of the rejected amendments provided that compensation to the SUS would only occur after a criminal lawsuit has become final. The bill’s rapporteur, Rose Modesto, considered that this would lead to a long delay between the occurrence and the refund.

In cases requiring the use of shelters by victims and monitoring devices, such costs shall also be compensated by the offender. The text also provides that the assets of a victim of domestic violence may not be used by the offender to pay the costs nor in remission or reduction of the sentence, from confinement to monetary damages.