International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, 52446-52455 [E6-14678]

Agencies

• Department of Justice
• Office of Justice Programs
• Justice Programs Office

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52446-52455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14678]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

28 CFR Part 94

[Docket No.: OJP (OJP)--1368]
RIN 1121-AA63


International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Justice Programs (``OJP'') is finalizing the 
following regulation with minor modifications as a result of comments 
concerning the original notice of proposed rulemaking published at 70 
FR 49518-49525, on August 24, 2005. This regulation implements 
provisions of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (the ``VOCA'') (42 
U.S.C. 10601 et seq.), which authorize the Director of the Office for 
Victims of Crime (``OVC''), a component of OJP, to establish an 
International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program 
(hereinafter referred to as the ``ITVERP'') to reimburse eligible 
``direct'' victims of acts of international terrorism that occur 
outside the United States for ``expenses associated with that 
victimization.''

DATES: This final rule is effective October 6, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Walker, Senior Policy Analyst, 
Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. 
Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531; 
by telephone, at: 1-800-363-0441; or by e-mail, at: ITVERP@usdoj.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As authorized by the VOCA, OVC generally 
provides Federal financial assistance to states for the purpose of 
compensating and assisting victims of crime, provides funds for 
training and technical assistance services for victims of Federal 
crime, and provides funding and services for victims of terrorism and 
mass violence. This program is funded by fines, fees, penalty 
assessments, and bond forfeitures paid by federal offenders, as well as 
gifts from private individuals, deposited into the Crime Victims Fund 
in the U.S. Treasury.
    On August 24, 2005, at 70 FR 49518, OJP published a proposed rule 
to implement the provisions of the (ITVERP). All comments concerning 
this rule were to be received by October 22, 2005. As a result of that 
publication, OVC received sixteen public comments. Eight of the 
comments came from individuals who had been victims of acts of 
international terrorism that occurred abroad. Two came from national 
victim assistance organizations, one of which represents the VOCA-
funded victim assistance organizations in the fifty-six relevant 
jurisdictions. Three comments were from individual state victim 
compensation boards, one was from a Federal agency, one was from a 
professional trade organization, and one was from an interested 
individual. Other than a few syntactical or grammatical changes of a 
technical, non-substantive nature, after careful review of all 
comments, OVC has made only two minor modifications, clarifying the 
definition of ``victim'' in Sec.  94.12(u)(2) (reworded to clarify 
which persons may be considered victims) and expanding the definition 
of ``collateral source'' in 94.12(c)(2).
    OVC offers the following issue analysis to provide additional 
details on the purpose and operation of the ITVERP.
    Twelve individuals or representatives of groups submitted comments 
regarding the scope of coverage of the program. These comments 
generally asked for the coverage of the program to be expanded in 
various ways. As detailed below, OVC thoughtfully considered each of 
these comments.
    As noted in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, OVC recognizes that 
little or no support may be given by other countries to American 
nationals who are victims of acts of international terrorism events 
that occur abroad and that state programs differ in how they treat 
residents who are victimized abroad. Moreover, victims of acts of 
international terrorism that occur outside the United States face 
unique obstacles in securing assistance and support. Against this 
background of variation in compensation levels, the authorizing statute 
indicates that the major purpose of the ITVERP is to reimburse 
``victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the 
United States for expenses associated with that victimization'' (42 
U.S.C. 10603c(b) (emphasis added)). Thus, the program--by statute--is 
intended to ensure a basic level of support for immediate and out-of-
pocket expenses associated with such victimization.
    OVC also wishes to note that the ITVERP will cover a broader range 
of expenses than the types of emergency expenses that have been 
provided to date through the existing discretionary program operated by 
the FBI in conjunction with the Department of State and OVC. Some 
emergency claims that were previously denied may thus fall within the 
ITVERP's scope. Therefore, victims who have received prior emergency 
assistance may wish to review their prior payments in relation to the 
limits established by this program, and submit such additional claims 
to the ITVERP, if warranted.

Additional Categories and Increased Limits

    Eight of the comments requested an expansion of the categories of 
reimbursable expenses, and one requested an increase of the limits of 
the existing categories. Requests for specific types of expenses are 
discussed below, but, as noted above, the goal of the program--by 
statute--is to provide a basic level of support for American nationals 
who are victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside 
the United States. OVC encourages victims to avail themselves of 
additional sources of compensation, which may include reimbursements 
either from other sources above the ITVERP limitations or for 
categories of expenses not covered by the ITVERP. Closely adhering to 
the statutory mandate of reimbursement for expenses provides greater 
stability to the program. By keeping the ITVERP focused on direct, out-
of-pocket expenses, consistent with the statutory authorization, OVC 
can ensure that funding will be available for all victims in the 
dreadful event that another act of international terrorism should occur 
overseas involving a large number of eligible victims.

[[Page 52447]]

Lost Wages and Loss of Support

    Seven comments requested that the program be expanded to include 
lost wages among the reimbursable expenses. This request was often 
coupled with a request that the program cover loss of support. Three of 
these comments came from state victim compensation boards, two came 
from national victim assistance organizations, one came from a Federal 
agency, and one came from an injured victim. Three of the comments 
noted that although states (which cover lost wages and loss of support) 
are not required to compensate victims of international terrorism, many 
continue to do so. Thus, they conclude, such victims will need to apply 
to both State and Federal programs to receive compensation in those 
categories. The commenters point out, however, that not all state 
programs provide the same level of compensation.
    As designed by OVC, the ITVERP sets a standard level of expense 
reimbursement assistance, but allows a victim to seek assistance from 
several sources, which necessarily means filing a claim or application 
for each source. Inasmuch as the program--by statute--is not intended 
to be comprehensive, of necessity it does not foreclose access to other 
sources of support or compensation. Although states are no longer 
required by the VOCA to provide assistance to victims of acts of 
international terrorism that occur outside the United States, they 
certainly may do so. In particular, states may offer compensation 
beyond the limits set by the ITVERP, or they may choose to fund 
categories of expenses not considered reimbursable under the ITVERP, 
such as lost wages and loss of support. As with noneconomic losses 
(such as pain and suffering or attorney's fees), lost wages and loss of 
support are not immediate and out-of-pocket expenses, and thus, by 
statute, are not covered under the ITVERP.

Family Members

    Four comments (two by state victim compensation boards, one by a 
national victim assistance group, and one by a federal agency) either 
asked for clarification of the intended coverage for family members or 
suggested that the ITVERP's scope be expanded to define additional 
family members as victims. Although state compensation statutes tend to 
define a wider range of family members as victims, the ITVERP's 
authorizing statute clearly limits reimbursement to victims who 
``suffered direct physical or emotional injury or death'' (42 U.S.C. 
10603c(a)(3)(A)(i)). These ``direct victims'' may be reimbursed for 
expenses in any category up to the allowable cap.
    In limited circumstances, as noted in the statute (42 U.S.C. 
10603c(a)(3)(B)), and clarified in the regulation's definitions (Sec.  
94.12(u)(2)), the following family members of persons who ``suffered 
direct physical or emotional injury or death'' may be considered 
victims in their own right: (1) Spouse; (2) children; (3) parents; (4) 
siblings; and (5) other persons at the discretion of the Director, 
provided such persons have established sufficient ties to the direct 
victim. (An example of an ``other person'' might be a grandparent who 
had been rearing a child who was killed in an act of international 
terrorism.) This expansion of the definition of victim occurs only in 
the following three circumstances: (1) When the direct victim dies as a 
result of the act of terrorism; (2) when the direct victim is under 18 
years of age (or is incompetent or incapacitated) at the time of the 
act of terrorism; or (3) when the direct victim is rendered incompetent 
or incapacitated at the time or as a result of the act of terrorism. 
Because of the expense-based nature of the program, these additional 
victims would directly qualify only for mental health care, within the 
ITVERP limits. Nevertheless, a family member who is considered a victim 
in his own right, and thus able to file a claim for mental health 
counseling, may also file a claim on behalf of the direct victim if he 
is also the victim's representative (i.e., a family member or legal 
guardian authorized to file the claim).
    Aside from close family members who may be considered victims in 
their own right (see 42 U.S.C. 10603c(a)(3)(B)), family members or 
others may be reimbursed for expenses paid on behalf of the direct 
victim. Although the direct victim or one family member (or legal 
guardian) will be authorized to file the actual claim and receive the 
reimbursement, the funds may then be distributed among others who have 
paid for reimbursable expenses on behalf of the direct victim. Thus, 
for example, one family member may pay the victim's medical expenses, 
another may pay travel expenses for the victim, and a third may file 
the claim as the victim's representative. The family member filing the 
claim would receive the reimbursement under the ITVERP and would then 
act as a fiduciary to distribute the money to the appropriate family 
members who had actually paid the expenses.
    A brief example may help to further illustrate. Suppose an 
individual were injured in a qualifying act of international terrorism. 
If the victim were not younger than 18 years of age, incompetent, 
incapacitated, or deceased, a single claim for reimbursable expenses 
could be filed by either the victim or the victim's representative. 
This claim could include reimbursable expenses actually paid by one or 
more other individuals, such as medical expenses or the travel expenses 
of up to two family members to assist the victim in the country where 
the act of terrorism took place. Although such expenses were initially 
paid by others, the claim for reimbursement would be based on the 
injury suffered by the person who is the direct victim. Other family 
members, such as the spouse, children, or parents of the victim, would 
not be eligible to file a claim on their own behalf for mental health 
counseling or other assistance. If the direct victim were younger than 
18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, then a single 
claim would still be made on behalf of the direct victim. This claim 
would still include any expenses paid by others on behalf of the 
victim, such as funeral expenses or the emergency travel of up to two 
family members. In addition, family members such as the spouse, 
children, parents, and siblings of the direct victim, would also be 
able to file individual claims for mental health counseling on their 
own behalf. Such additional victims would not be eligible for other 
expense reimbursement as part of their individual claim. They would, 
however, still be able to receive reimbursement for expenses paid under 
the claim of the direct victim.

Tuition, Childcare, and Travel Expenses

    Five comments (three by victims, one from a state victim 
compensation board, and one from a federal agency) involved suggestions 
for reimbursement in categories that are already covered by the ITVERP 
under certain circumstances. For example, tuition payments are 
considered a reimbursable expense for the direct victim if the 
schooling is related to retraining required as a direct result of the 
injury. This may include, for example, training for using TDD 
equipment, prosthetic limbs, Braille, and other vision and physical 
aids. Similarly, expenses for rehabilitation training to assist victims 
in adjusting to a new work environment would be reimbursed under the 
ITVERP. (See the table in the Appendix to Subpart A for examples.)
    One commenter suggested expanding this existing education coverage 
to include tuition for a surviving spouse to return to school. Another 
suggestion was for future tuition for the children of

[[Page 52448]]

a deceased victim. Because the ITVERP is restricted by statute to 
direct reimbursement to victims for actual out-of-pocket expenses 
resulting from the act of international terrorism, such expenses 
related to normal educational needs of the victim or surviving family 
members cannot be covered.
    Along similar lines, immediate childcare costs may be considered 
reimbursable miscellaneous expenses when they are necessary for the 
children of the direct victim, or for the children of a deceased 
victim's family members who travel to the country where the act of 
international terrorism occurred to care for the victim or recover the 
victim's remains. Long-term childcare expenses, however, are more akin 
to personal expenses than immediate direct expenses attributable to the 
act of terrorism, and for that reason they cannot be covered by the 
ITVERP.
    Emergency travel for up to two family members is a reimbursable 
miscellaneous expense in a variety of circumstances. This includes 
traveling to care for the direct victim or to recover the deceased 
victim's remains. Travel expenses will be covered to the country where 
the incident occurred, in most instances, but it may be to other 
locations depending on the circumstances (e.g., travel to a hospital in 
another country to which the victim has been evacuated).

Funeral and Burial Expenses

    A family member of a deceased victim inquired as to the specific 
items allowable as funeral expenses. Reimbursable expenses include a 
variety of costs associated with the return and disposition of the 
victim's remains, including markers, flowers, and costs related to 
memorial services, up to the cap on costs. Activities of a religious 
nature that are reasonably related to funeral and burial expenses are 
reimbursable. Other than the category cap, the primary limitation in 
this category is that the expense be for a ``reasonably related 
activity.''
    One comment by a professional trade group suggested that the 
definition of ``burial costs'' be expanded to be more consistent with 
the FTC regulatory provision on funerals (16 CFR 453 (1999)). The 
commenter wanted to ensure that the ITVERP regulation would not limit 
burial options for a family, such as the choice between an ``earth 
burial'' or cremation. As noted above, the coverage of burial costs is 
intended to be as inclusive as possible of all customs, cultures, and 
religious faiths. As an integral part of the grieving process, no 
family should be constrained by this program in observing appropriate 
burial customs in a manner and method decided by the family. To this 
end, and upon review of the language in the FTC rule, OVC does not 
believe that limiting reimbursement to the current language adopted by 
the FTC would be appropriate. Rather, OVC continues to read the 
existing language expansively, as a method to provide for wide coverage 
of burial expenses, consistent with the specific needs of each family. 
As noted previously, the ITVERP does not limit those options, other 
than to impose a reasonable spending cap of $25,000 for merchandise or 
activities reasonably related to funeral and burial costs, which can be 
directed according to the wishes of the family.

Interim Emergency Payments

    One commenter, a victim of international terrorism, requested that 
the program make interim emergency payments. The ITVERP already allows 
for interim emergency payments when the Director of OVC determines such 
payment is necessary to avoid or mitigate substantial hardship. Once 
the ITVERP becomes operational, such interim emergency payments will be 
possible for victims of future acts of international terrorism.

Insurance

    One comment by a victim pointed out that insurance carriers exclude 
costs associated with acts of international terrorism, or may cancel 
policies following a terrorist event. Changes to insurance industry 
practices would need to be effected by other legislative action and are 
beyond the purview of these regulations.

Taxes

    One victim suggested that under the ITVERP any final taxes owed by 
a deceased victim should be forgiven by the Internal Revenue Service, 
as they were for victims of the 9/11 attacks and the Oklahoma City 
bombing. Although the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001 
currently forgives final taxes for deceased victims of specified 
terrorist attacks, coverage with respect to other acts of international 
terrorism outside the United States would require an amendment to the 
Act or new legislation.
    Individuals receiving reimbursements under the ITVERP should 
consult the Internal Revenue Service (and state taxing authorities, as 
appropriate) to determine the tax status of such reimbursements. The 
IRS has in the past limited tax exposure in situations of state 
compensation payments. It is anticipated that once OJP adopts final 
regulations for the ITVERP program, OVC will request that the IRS 
independently determine the appropriate tax status for expense 
reimbursements under the ITVERP.

Category Caps

    Five comments (three from victims, one from a Federal agency, and 
one from an interested individual) suggested that some or all of the 
category caps were too low, particularly for the mental health 
category. The purpose of the ITVERP is to help victims mitigate certain 
economic losses occasioned by the terrorist event. Placing caps on 
reimbursement categories helps to ensure that funds will be available 
for future victims of international terrorism abroad. By statute, the 
program is not designed to insure against all losses. For example, 
reimbursement for property loss is intended to help victims replace 
items that are necessary for immediate daily living. The expectation is 
that families living abroad or on extended travel would avail 
themselves of the opportunity to purchase additional medical or travel 
insurance and insure items of substantial value (e.g., home, household 
goods, automobile). Similarly, funding for mental health counseling is 
intended to provide immediate counseling intervention, not long-term 
therapy. As with lost wages, which are not reimbursable under the 
ITVERP, programs funded under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) 
may provide compensation in additional categories or in amounts above 
the ITVERP caps, and victims are encouraged to apply to such state 
programs.

Collateral Sources

    Seven of the comments (three from state victim compensation boards, 
one from a national victim advocacy group, one from a federal agency, 
and two from victims) were related to collateral sources as defined in 
Sec.  94.12(c) and described in Sec.  94.25. Four of the comments 
requested clarification of the relationship between the ITVERP and 
state compensation programs. Two comments concerned payments received 
from a foreign government. The seventh comment concerned prior payments 
made under another Federal statute.
    The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate 
Tools Required To Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA 
PATRIOT Act), Public Law 107-56, eliminated the requirement for state 
crime victim compensation programs to pay compensation to victims in 
cases of international terrorism abroad. Accordingly, the ITVERP is the 
primary

[[Page 52449]]

federally-funded reimbursement source for these victims. State crime 
victim compensation programs may elect to continue to provide 
compensation to victims of international terrorism abroad in categories 
not covered under the ITVERP, or in amounts beyond the ITVERP's 
category caps. If a state chooses to compensate residents who are 
victims of international terrorism outside the United States, it does 
so as a payer of last resort. Although the state may consider federal 
ITVERP payments as collateral source payments that diminish its payment 
obligations, state supplemental compensation payments will not reduce 
Federal payment obligations. In other words, if the state chooses to 
provide additional payments to victims who have received specific 
payments under the ITVERP, those payments will be considered 
supplemental support and not collateral sources for purposes of the 
Federal program. If the ITVERP and the state program provide 
reimbursement for identical expenses, the ITVERP is considered the 
initial payer. Moreover, international terrorism victims are not 
required to apply to state compensation programs before filing an 
application for reimbursement under the ITVERP. This policy is in line 
with the current practice and permits state compensation programs to 
retain their status as the payers of last resort.
    For example, suppose that after an international terrorist event a 
victim were to apply for and receive full reimbursement under an ITVERP 
category, but outstanding expenses remain. A state compensation program 
is not required by VOCA to make additional payments under that 
category. The state may, however, elect to make supplemental payments 
(under that category) to the victim. Additionally, for expenses under 
categories that are not covered under the ITVERP, the state 
compensation programs may continue to reimburse the victim within the 
state's approved limit. Furthermore, any such supplemental or 
additional payments may be counted in a state's certified payout of 
victim compensation expenses, and therefore eligible for inclusion in 
the calculation of future state compensation awards under VOCA.
    Two comments (both from victims) asked for clarification of the 
extent to which payments from a foreign government would affect ITVERP 
payments to victims. One commenter suggested that the regulations would 
cause hardship to victims if foreign payments are counted as collateral 
sources. Section 94.25 of the regulation specifically provides that any 
payment from the United States or a foreign government in the form of 
general compensation (e.g., a lump sum or structured payment) will be 
considered a collateral source. As such, an award under the ITVERP 
would be reduced by the amount of payment(s) by the foreign government 
(or the claimant would subrogate the United States to the extent of the 
ITVERP award if it is paid first). If, however, the payment from the 
United States or a foreign government is for reimbursement of a 
specific category of expenses that is not covered under the ITVERP or 
is a supplemental reimbursement beyond the ITVERP category cap, the 
reimbursement will not be considered a collateral source, and will not 
reduce the reimbursement the claimant receives from the ITVERP. 
Although unsatisfied judgments against foreign governments may be 
collateral sources under the final rule, in principle the ITVERP award 
is not intended to limit victims' options in seeking collateral source 
payments from other sources to cover otherwise non-compensated 
expenses. The intent is to ensure that funds are available to reimburse 
the basic expenses of victims, by not allowing the receipt of money 
from more than one source to cover the same expense. This may result in 
a slight reduction in reimbursements for some victims. In any event, 
further to the foregoing discussion (and comments from the Department 
of State), some clarifying changes have been made to the definition of 
collateral sources in the final rule.
    ITVERP is an expense reimbursement program. As such, ITVERP funds 
are available to reimburse the victim for specific expenses (as opposed 
to a general compensation program). To ensure fiscal integrity, the 
program is designed to prevent duplication of payments. Thus, 
reimbursements by collateral sources for specific expenses below the 
cap are not exempted as there can only be one reimbursement for each 
specific expense. Nevertheless, the intent is that under no 
circumstances should total reimbursements under ITVERP exceed actual 
expenses. Where expenses are less than the ITVERP reimbursement plus 
any collateral sources, the claimant would be required to return the 
excess ITVERP payment. In the event that expenses are covered by 
another source, the claimant cannot be reimbursed for the same expense 
under ITVERP.
    A comment from a Federal agency expressed concern about whether 
victims might receive a compensatory damage award from another Federal 
government source, such as the U.S. Treasury, and still be eligible for 
reimbursement under the ITVERP. As noted above, a victim would not be 
eligible under Sec.  94.25 to receive reimbursement from the ITVERP for 
an expense for which he has already received reimbursement. 
Compensatory damage awards, by definition, typically make payment based 
on specific losses incurred. In cases where there are such awards, the 
ITVERP would not reimburse a victim for those expenses already covered 
by the award. If, however, a Federal government payment constituted 
supplemental reimbursement for a specific expense beyond the maximum 
amount reimbursed for that expense covered by the ITVERP, such payment 
would not be considered a collateral source, and would not diminish the 
amount to which a victim would otherwise be entitled under the ITVERP.

Victims Covered

    One comment by a victim indicated concern that the ITVERP would be 
uniformly applied to United States citizens as well as eligible 
noncitizens. The ITVERP statute specifically defines ``victim'' to 
include someone who is ``a national of the United States or an officer 
or employee of the United States Government,'' 42 U.S.C. 
10603c(a)(3)(A)(ii), which expressly includes certain non-citizens. In 
addition, as previously noted in the section on Family Members, if the 
direct victim was younger than 18 years of age, incompetent, 
incapacitated, or deceased, additional family members would be 
considered victims for purposes of obtaining mental health counseling 
(42 U.S.C. 10603c(a)(3)(B)). Such family members need not be United 
States citizens or officers or employees of the United States to be 
eligible. The commenter also questioned whether reimbursement should be 
available only to innocent victims. The statute addresses this issue by 
creating an express statutory exception that ``in no event shall an 
individual who is criminally culpable for the terrorist act or mass 
violence receive any compensation under this section, either directly 
or on behalf of a victim'' (42 U.S.C. 10603c(a)(3)(C)).

Application Requirements

    Three comments (one from a national victim assistance group, one 
from a federal agency, and the third from a victim) related to 
application procedures. The national organization expressed its support 
for the statutory provision allowing retroactive filing of claims back 
to December 1988, and for the provision allowing for extensions (at the 
discretion of the Director) of the

[[Page 52450]]

three-year deadline for filing applications (see Sec.  94.32).
    The national organization and the victim suggested that it was 
difficult for claimants who may be operating in a state of shock to 
remember to retain original receipts, especially after a substantial 
amount of time has elapsed. Although the regulation requires original 
receipts for the expenses to be reimbursed, Sec.  94.31 takes into 
account situations where original receipts may not be available. In 
such cases (at the discretion of the Director of OVC), the claimant may 
submit an itemized list of expenses along with a certification that the 
original receipts are unavailable and a statement attesting that the 
items and amounts submitted in the application are true and correct to 
the best of the claimant's knowledge.

Confidentiality

    One of the state victim compensation boards submitted a comment 
expressing concern about the confidentiality of the information 
submitted by the claimants. Specifically, the commenter was concerned 
that the initial ITVERP application, any supporting documents, and the 
appeal material would become a public record. The organization was 
concerned that measures should be taken to safeguard the privacy of the 
victim and the victim's family.
    Application materials and other supporting documents received from 
claimants will be maintained in accordance with the U.S. Department of 
Justice's applicable Privacy Act System of Records notice. The Freedom 
of Information Act contains an exemption that protects the privacy 
rights of individuals by prohibiting the disclosure of information that 
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. In 
addition, 42 U.S.C. 10604(d) specifically prevents release of such 
information, except pursuant to Federal law.

Emergency Responders

    Two comments (one from a national victim assistance organization 
and one from an interested individual) requested additional 
clarification of the term ``emergency responder.'' Section 94.41(u)(1) 
indicates that ``victim'' has the meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 
10603c(a)(3)(A). Because of the statutory requirement of ``direct 
physical or emotional injury as a result of international terrorism,'' 
the term ``victim'' is understood to include three basic groups of 
individuals (all of whom are required by the Statute to be either 
United States nationals, or officers or employees of the United States 
Government): (1) Those who were present during the act of terrorism 
(i.e., those who might be thought of as traditional victims); (2) 
individuals who were present during the immediate aftermath of the act 
which would include those who immediately assist at the site (e.g., 
``good Samaritans''); and (3) emergency responders who assisted in 
efforts to search for and recover other victims. The common definition 
of ``emergency responders'' includes those who are mission-essential 
personnel involved in the search and rescue or recovery of other 
victims. Traditionally, this includes police officers, firefighters, 
and medical personnel engaged in these activities. Others may also be 
included depending on the circumstances of the act of terrorism; for 
example, if the act resulted in a collapsed building, structural 
engineers and construction workers would likely be directly involved in 
the rescue and recovery efforts.

Claim Filing

    One comment by a state victim compensation board requested 
clarification regarding whether multiple claims may be opened in the 
name of one victim, and if not, how the ITVERP would select the 
qualified claimant for each victim. As an expense reimbursement 
program, the ITVERP is designed to ensure that those who pay for 
certain expenses on behalf of a victim are reimbursed. There must be 
some limitation, however, to reduce the administrative burden in 
implementing this program, while at the same time ensuring that the 
appropriate individuals are reimbursed. The regulation establishes an 
effective system for achieving those goals by requiring, except in 
extraordinary circumstances, that a single claim be filed by each 
individual victim (or his representative if the victim is younger than 
18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased). For that 
reason, there shall ordinarily be only one claimant with respect to 
each victim. A claimant submitting a claim for reimbursement as the 
victim's representative must certify that he is a family member or 
legal guardian authorized to submit the claim. When multiple sources 
have contributed toward payment of the victim's expenses, limiting 
reimbursement to a single claimant entrusts the victim (or the victim's 
representative) with the fiduciary obligation to distribute 
reimbursements, as appropriate, within the funding caps of the 
regulation.
    The only exception to the principle of a single claimant or 
previously-authorized representative relates to interim emergency 
payments. Section 94.41 of the regulation allows for the possibility 
that in emergency situations there may be a need for others, such as a 
family member or consular officer, to submit a claim on behalf of the 
victim, to facilitate immediate treatment or travel. In such emergency 
situations, the claimant is considered a representative of the victim 
for that limited emergency purpose only. After the emergency has 
passed, the victim (or his representative, if the victim is younger 
than 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased) would be 
substituted as the claimant and would submit all subsequent or 
supplemental claims.
    As previously noted in the Family Members section, if the direct 
victim is younger than 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or 
deceased, Sec.  94.12(u)(2) specifies those family members who may also 
be considered victims. In such cases, these additional victims are 
eligible for reimbursement for mental health counseling and could file 
individual claims in their own right.

State Department Handling of Funds

    One comment by a state victim compensation board requested 
clarification regarding how a U.S. Embassy would handle the collection 
and distribution of funds on behalf of a victim in the limited 
circumstance when a consular officer is authorized to file a claim on 
behalf of a victim. The commenter specifically wondered if the funds 
would be put in trust for the victim. Section 94.12(t) specifies that a 
U.S. consular officer or U.S. embassy official may receive money on 
behalf of a victim only if ``no family member or legal guardian is 
available to file a claim for an interim emergency payment on behalf of 
a victim under Sec.  94.41.'' A review of instances in which a U.S. 
consular officer would need to file for such emergency expenses 
confirms that all such transfers are expected to occur according to 
currently established U.S. Department of State rules, which require 
strict accountability through use of a trust. Because the Department of 
State has already established strict accountability rules to govern the 
disbursement of funds on behalf of American citizens abroad, the 
Department of Justice will honor those rules in implementing the 
ITVERP.
    In the rare circumstance in which the amount of funds in an 
emergency disbursement exceeds the actual amount necessary (e.g., 
medical evacuation costs were less than expected), excess funds would 
be transferred back to the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve of the Crime 
Victims Fund. Those funds would again be available for

[[Page 52451]]

supplemental claims, provided the expenses were under the cap for that 
category.

Travel Warnings

    One comment from an interested individual expressed concern that 
the eligibility restriction found in Sec.  94.21(c)(3)(iii) would 
exclude all victims of an act of international terrorism if the act 
occurred in a country for which the Department of State has issued a 
travel warning. Although Sec.  94.21(c)(3)(iii) indicates a restriction 
of eligibility based on travel warnings, the restriction depends on two 
pre-conditions. First, Sec.  94.21(c)(3) requires that the victim ``(As 
a non-U.S. Government employee), [was] acting as an advisor, 
consultant, employee, or contractor, in a military or political 
capacity.'' Thus, U.S. Government employees would not be excluded by 
the restriction of Sec.  94.21(c)(3); in addition, a non-U.S. 
Government employee would be eligible unless that individual were 
working in a military or political capacity. Second, the Sec.  
94.21(c)(3)(iii) restriction applies only to countries where the travel 
warning was issued in relation to ``armed conflict.'' The Department of 
State maintains a list of countries for which it has issued travel 
warnings, some of which relate to armed conflict and others of which do 
not; these warnings may be accessed via the Internet at https://
www.travel.state.gov/travel. (Please note that under Sec.  94.21(c)(4) 
eligibility is predicated on the fact that a victim has not engaged in 
grossly reckless conduct which contributed materially to his death or 
injury.)
    For example, the Department of State issued a travel warning for 
Nigeria on December 1, 2005, based on ``increasing crime in Lagos, as 
well as unrest in the Delta''; in contrast, the travel warning issued 
on November 22, 2005, for Haiti was based on concern over ``violent 
confrontations between armed groups'': If an incident were declared an 
act of international terrorism, the warning for Nigeria would not 
trigger a restriction in eligibility under the ITVERP, but the warning 
for Haiti could trigger a restriction on eligibility if the non-U.S. 
employee was acting as an advisor, consultant, employee, or contractor, 
in a military or political capacity.

Regulatory Certifications

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This regulation has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Exec. Order No. 12866, section 1(b), 58 FR 51, 735 (Sept. 30, 1993), 
Principles of Regulation. OJP has determined that this regulation is a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order No. 12866, and 
accordingly, this regulation has been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    This regulation will not have a substantial direct effect on the 
states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Exec. Order 
No. 13132, 64 FR 43, 255 (Aug. 4, 1999), it is determined that this 
regulation does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Cost/Benefit Assessment

    This regulation has no cost to state, local, or tribal governments, 
or to the private sector. The ITVERP is funded by fines, fees, penalty 
assessments, and forfeitures paid by federal offenders, as well as 
gifts from private individuals, deposited into the Crime Victims Fund 
in the U.S. Treasury, and set aside in the Antiterrorism Emergency 
Reserve Fund, whose funds may not be obligated in an amount above $50 
million in any given year. The cost to the Federal Government consists 
both of administrative expenses and amounts reimbursed to victims. Both 
types of costs depend on the number of claimants, prospective as well 
as retroactive. Although spending is anticipated to be higher in the 
initial years as a result of the number of potential retroactive 
claimants (approximately 900), the program will not spend more than the 
statutory maximum of $50 million each year.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. This regulation has no cost to 
State, local, or tribal governments, or to the private sector. The 
ITVERP is funded by fines, fees, penalty assessments, and bond 
forfeitures paid by Federal offenders, as well as gifts from private 
individuals, deposited into the Crime Victims Fund in the U.S. 
Treasury. Therefore, an analysis of the impact of this regulation on 
such entities is not required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    The collection of information requirements contained in this 
regulation has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, 
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3506). Applicants 
seeking reimbursement from this program will be required to submit an 
official application form (the International Terrorism Victim Expense 
Reimbursement Program Application), that has been created by OVC. This 
application is a new information collection instrument that will be 
used to collect necessary information from and about the victims and 
claimants regarding expenses incurred by them, to be used by OVC in 
making a reimbursement determination. The total number of initial 
respondents (including both direct victims and family members) for this 
collection is estimated to be 2,000. This represents the estimated 
number of claimants who are currently eligible to request reimbursement 
under the ITVERP. The total initial public burden associated with this 
initial information collection is estimated to be approximately 1,500 
hours. The amount of time for an average respondent to respond/reply is 
estimated to be approximately 45 minutes.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This regulation will not result in the expenditure by State, local, 
and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 94

    Administrative practice and procedures, International terrorism, 
Victim compensation.
    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, Title 28 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended to add a new part 94, to 
read as follows:

PART 94--CRIME VICTIM SERVICES

Subpart A--International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program

Introduction

Sec.
94.11 Purpose; construction and severability.
94.12 Definitions.
94.13 Terms.

Coverage

94.21 Eligibility.
94.22 Categories of expenses.
94.23 Amount of reimbursement.
94.24 Determination of award.
94.25 Collateral sources.

[[Page 52452]]

Program Administration

94.31 Application procedures.
94.32 Application deadline.
94.33 Investigation and analysis of claims.

Payment of Claims

94.41 Interim emergency payment.
94.42 Repayment and waiver of repayment.

Appeal Procedures

94.51 Request for reconsideration.
94.52 Final agency decision.

Appendix to Subpart A--International Terrorism Victim Expense 
Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) Chart of Expense Categories and Limits

Subpart B--[Reserved]
Subpart C--[Reserved]
Subpart D--[Reserved]

    Authority: Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Title II, Secs. 1404C 
and 1407 (42 U.S.C. 10603c, 10604).

Subpart A--International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement 
Program

Introduction


Sec.  94.11  Purpose; construction and severability.

    (a) The purpose of this subpart is to implement the provisions of 
VOCA, Title II, Sec. 1404C (42 U.S.C. 10603c), which authorize the 
Director (Director), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), a component of 
the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), to establish a program to 
reimburse eligible victims of acts of international terrorism that 
occur outside the United States, for expenses associated with that 
victimization.
    (b) Any provision of this part held to be invalid or unenforceable 
by its terms, or as applied to any person or circumstance, shall be 
construed so as to give it the maximum effect permitted by law, unless 
such holding shall be one of utter invalidity or unenforceability, in 
which event such provision shall be deemed severable from this part and 
shall not affect the remainder thereof or the application of such 
provision to other persons not similarly situated or to other, 
dissimilar circumstances.


Sec.  94.12  Definitions.

    The following definitions shall apply to this subpart:
    (a) Child means any biological or legally-adopted child, or any 
stepchild, of a deceased victim, who, at the time of the victim's 
death, is--
    (1) Younger than 18 years of age; or
    (2) Over 18 years of age and a student, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
8101.
    (b) Claimant means a victim, or his representative, who is 
authorized to sign and submit an application, and receive payment for 
reimbursement, if appropriate.
    (c) Collateral sources means sources that provide reimbursement for 
specific expenses compensated under this subpart, including property, 
health, disability, or other insurance for specific expenses; Medicare 
or Medicaid; workers' compensation programs; military or veterans' 
benefits of a compensatory nature; vocational rehabilitation benefits; 
restitution; and other state, Federal, foreign, and international 
compensation programs: except that any reimbursement received under 
this subpart shall be reduced by the amount of any lump sum payment 
whatsoever, received from, or in respect of the United States or a 
foreign government, unless the claimant can show that such payment was 
for a category of expenses not covered under this subpart. To the 
extent that a claimant has an unsatisfied judgment against a foreign 
government based on the same act of terrorism, the value of that 
unsatisfied judgment shall be counted as a lump sum payment for 
expenses covered under this subpart, unless the claimant agrees to 
waive his right to sue the United States government for satisfaction of 
that judgment.
    (d) Deceased means individuals who are dead, or are missing and 
presumed dead.
    (e) Dependent has the meaning given in 26 U.S.C. 152. If the victim 
was not required by law to file a U.S. Federal income tax return for 
the year prior to the act of international terrorism, an individual 
shall be deemed to be a victim's dependent if he was reliant on the 
income of the victim for over half of his support in that year.
    (f) Employee of the United States Government means any person who--
    (1) Is an employee of the United States government under Federal 
law; or
    (2) Receives a salary or compensation of any kind from the United 
States Government for personal services directly rendered to the United 
States, similar to those of an individual in the United States Civil 
Service, or is a contractor of the United States Government (or an 
employee of such contractor) rendering such personal services.
    (g) Funeral and burial means those activities involved in the 
disposition of the remains of a deceased victim, including preparation 
of the body and body tissue, refrigeration, transportation, cremation, 
procurement of a final resting place, urns, markers, flowers and 
ornamentation, costs related to memorial services, and other 
reasonably-associated activities, including travel for not more than 
two family members.
    (h) Incapacitated means substantially impaired by mental illness or 
deficiency, or by physical illness or disability, to the extent that 
personal decision-making is impossible.
    (i) Incompetent means unable to care for oneself because of mental 
illness or disability, mental retardation, or dementia.
    (j) International terrorism has the meaning given in 18 U.S.C. 
2331. As of the date of these regulations, the statute defines the term 
to mean ``activities that--
    (1) Involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a 
violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or 
that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction 
of the United States or of any State;
    (2) Appear to be intended--
    (i) To intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
    (ii) To influence the policy of a government by intimidation or 
coercion; or
    (iii) To affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, 
assassination, or kidnaping; and
    (3) Occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the 
United States, or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means 
by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to 
intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate 
or seek asylum.''
    (k) Legal guardian means legal guardian, as the term is defined 
under the laws of the jurisdiction of which the ward is or was a legal 
resident, except that if the ward is or was a national of the United 
States, the legal guardianship must be pursuant to an order of a court 
of competent jurisdiction of or within the United States.
    (l) Medical expenses means costs associated with the treatment, 
cure, or mitigation of a disease, injury, or mental or emotional 
condition that is the result of an act of international terrorism. 
Allowable medical expenses include reimbursement for eyeglasses or 
other corrective lenses, dental services, rehabilitation costs, 
prosthetic or other medical devices, prescription medication, and other 
services rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by 
the jurisdiction in which the medical care is administered.
    (m) Mental health care means mental health care provided by an 
individual who meets professional standards to provide these services 
in the jurisdiction in which the care is administered.

[[Page 52453]]

    (n) National of the United States has the meaning given in section 
101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)). 
As of the date of these regulations, the statute defines the term to 
mean ``(A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though 
not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the 
United States.''
    (o) Officer of the United States government has the meaning given 
in 5 U.S.C. 2104.
    (p) Outside the United States means outside any state of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other possession or territory of 
the United States.
    (q) Parent means a biological or legally-adoptive parent, or a 
step-parent, unless his parental rights have been terminated in the 
jurisdiction where the child is or was a legal resident, except that if 
the child or either parent is a national of the United States, the 
termination must be pursuant to an order of a court of competent 
jurisdiction of or within the United States.
    (r) Property loss refers to items of personal property (other than 
medical devices, which are included in the category of ``medical 
expenses'') that are lost, destroyed, or held as evidence.
    (s) Rehabilitation costs includes reasonable costs for the 
following: physiotherapy; occupational therapy; counseling, and 
workplace, vehicle, and home modifications.
    (t) Representative means a family member or legal guardian 
authorized to file a claim on behalf of a victim who is younger than 18 
years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, except that no 
individual who was criminally culpable for the act of international 
terrorism shall be considered a representative. In the event that no 
family member or legal guardian is available to file a claim for an 
interim emergency payment on behalf of a victim, under Sec.  94.41, a 
U.S. consular officer or U.S. embassy official within the country may 
act as a representative, consistent with any limitation on his 
authority contained in 22 CFR 92.81(b).
    (u) Victim has the meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 10603c(a)(3)(A), it 
being understood that the term ``person'' in that section means the 
following:
    (1) (i) An individual who was present during the act of terrorism;
    (ii) An individual who was present during the immediate aftermath 
of the act of terrorism; or
    (iii) An emergency responder who assisted in efforts to search for 
and recover other victims; and
    (2) The spouse, children, parents, and siblings of a victim 
described in paragraph (u)(1) of this Section, and other persons, at 
the discretion of the Director, shall be considered ``victims'', when 
the person described in such paragraph--
    (i) Dies as a result of the act of terrorism;
    (ii) Is younger than 18 years of age (or is incompetent or 
incapacitated) at the time of the act of terrorism, or;
    (iii) Is rendered incompetent or incapacitated as a result of the 
act of terrorism.


Sec.  94.13  Terms.

    The first three provisions of 1 U.S.C. 1 (rules of construction) 
shall apply to this subpart.

Coverage


Sec.  94.21  Eligibility.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, 
reimbursement of qualified expenses under this subpart is available to 
a victim of international terrorism or his representative, pursuant to 
42 U.S.C. 10603c(a)(3)(A). For purposes of eligibility for this program 
only, the Attorney General shall determine whether there is a 
reasonable indication that an act was one of international terrorism, 
within the meaning of that section.
    (b) Reimbursement shall be denied to any claimant if the Director, 
in consultation with appropriate Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, 
determines that there is a reasonable indication that either the victim 
with respect to whom the claim is made, or the claimant, was criminally 
culpable for the act of international terrorism.
    (c) Reimbursement may be reduced or denied to a claimant if the 
Director, in consultation with appropriate DOJ officials, determines 
that the victim with respect to whom the claim is made contributed 
materially to his own death or injury by--
    (1) Engaging in conduct that violates U.S. law or the law of the 
jurisdiction in which the act of international terrorism occurred;
    (2) Acting as a mercenary or ``soldier of fortune'';
    (3) (As a non-U.S. Government employee), acting as an advisor, 
consultant, employee, or contractor, in a military or political 
capacity--
    (i) For a rebel or paramilitary organization;
    (ii) For a government not recognized by the United States; or
    (iii) In a country in which an official travel warning issued by 
the U.S. Department of State related to armed conflict was in effect at 
the time of the act of international terrorism; or
    (4) Engaging in grossly reckless conduct.


Sec.  94.22  Categories of expenses.

    The following categories of expenses, generally, may be reimbursed, 
with some limitations, as noted in Sec.  94.23: medical care; mental 
health care; property loss; funeral and burial; and miscellaneous 
expenses (including temporary lodging, emergency travel, and 
transportation). Under this subpart, the Director shall not reimburse 
for attorneys' fees, lost wages, or non-economic losses (such as pain 
and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, etc.).


Sec.  94.23  Amount of reimbursement.

    Different categories of expenses are capped, as set forth in the 
chart below. Those caps may be adjusted, from time to time, by 
rulemaking. The cap in effect within a particular expense category, at 
the time that the application is received, shall apply to the award.


Sec.  94.24  Determination of award.

    After review of each application, the Director shall determine the 
eligibility of the victim or representative and the amount, if any, 
eligible for reimbursement, specifying the reasons for such 
determination and the findings of fact and conclusions of law 
supporting it. A copy of the determination shall be mailed to the 
claimant at his last known address.


Sec.  94.25  Collateral sources.

    (a) The amount of expenses reimbursed to a claimant under this 
subpart shall be reduced by any amount that the claimant receives from 
a collateral source in connection with the same act of international 
terrorism. In cases in which a claimant receives reimbursement under 
this subpart for expenses that also will or may be reimbursed from 
another source, the claimant shall subrogate the United States to the 
claim for payment from the collateral source up to the amount for which 
the claimant was reimbursed under this subpart.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, when a 
collateral source provides supplemental reimbursement for a specific 
expense, beyond the maximum amount reimbursed for that expense under 
this subpart, the claimant's award under this subpart shall not be 
reduced by the amount paid by the collateral source, nor shall the

[[Page 52454]]

claimant be required to subrogate the United States to the claim for 
payment from the collateral source, except that in no event shall the 
combined reimbursement under this subpart and any collateral source 
exceed the actual expense.

Program Administration


Sec.  94.31  Application procedures.

    (a) To receive reimbursement, a claimant must submit a completed 
application under this program requesting payment based on an itemized 
list of expenses, and must submit original receipts.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in cases 
involving incidents of terrorism preceding the establishment of this 
program where claimants may not have original receipts, and in cases in 
which the claimant certifies that the receipts have been destroyed or 
lost, the Director may, in his discretion, accept an itemized list of 
expenses. In each such case, the claimant must certify that original 
receipts are unavailable and attest that the items and amounts 
submitted in the list are true and correct to the best of his 
knowledge. In the event that it is later determined that a fraudulent 
certification was made, the United States may take action to recover 
any payment made under this section, and pursue criminal prosecution, 
as appropriate.


Sec.  94.32  Application deadline.

    The deadline for an application is three years from the date of the 
act of international terrorism. At the discretion of the Director, the 
deadline for filing a claim may be extended to a date not later than 
three years from the date of the determination that there is a 
reasonable indication that an act of international terrorism has 
occurred, under Sec.  94.21(a). For claims related to acts of 
international terrorism that occurred after December 21, 1988, but 
before the establishment of this program, the application deadline is 
three years from the effective date of these regulations.


Sec.  94.33  Investigation and analysis of claims.

    The Director may seek an expert examination of claims submitted if 
he believes there is a reasonable basis for requesting additional 
evaluation. The claimant, in submitting an application for 
reimbursement, authorizes the Director to release information regarding 
claims or expenses listed in the application to an appropriate body for 
review. If the Director initiates an expert review, no identifying 
information for the victim or representative shall be released.

Payment of Claims


Sec.  94.41  Interim emergency payment.

    Claimants may apply for an interim emergency payment, prior to a 
determination under Sec.  94.21(a). If the Director determines that 
such payment is necessary to avoid or mitigate substantial hardship 
that may result from delaying reimbursement until complete and final 
consideration of an application, such payment may be made to cover 
immediate expenses such as those of medical care, funeral and burial, 
short-term lodging, and emergency transportation. The amount of an 
interim emergency payment shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, 
and shall be deducted from the final award amount.


Sec.  94.42  Repayment and waiver of repayment.

    A victim or representative shall reimburse the program upon a 
determination by the Director that an interim emergency award or final 
award was: Made to an ineligible victim or claimant; based on 
fraudulent information; or an overpayment. Except in the case of 
ineligibility pursuant to a determination by the Director, in 
consultation with appropriate DOJ officials, under Sec.  94.21(b), the 
Director may waive such repayment requirement in whole or in part, for 
good cause, upon request.

Appeal Procedures


Sec.  94.51  Request for reconsideration.

    A victim or representative may, within thirty (30) days after 
receipt of the determination under Sec.  94.24, appeal the same to the 
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, by 
submitting a written request for review. The Assistant Attorney General 
may conduct a review and make a determination based on the material 
submitted with the initial application, or may request additional 
documentation in order to conduct a more thorough review. In special 
circumstances, the Assistant Attorney General may determine that an 
oral hearing is warranted; in such cases, the hearing shall be held at 
a reasonable time and place.


Sec.  94.52  Final agency decision.

    In cases that are not appealed under Sec.  94.51, the Director's 
determination pursuant to Sec.  94.24 shall be the final agency 
decision. In all cases that are appealed, the Assistant Attorney 
General shall issue a notice of final determination, which shall be the 
final agency decision, setting forth the findings of fact and 
conclusions of law supporting his determination.

Appendix to Subpart A--International Terrorism Victim Expense 
Reimbursement Program (ITVERP); Chart of Expense Categories and Limits

    There are five major categories of expenses for which claimants 
may seek reimbursement under the ITVERP: (1) Medical expenses, 
including dental and rehabilitation costs; (2) Mental health care; 
(3) Property loss, repair, and replacement; (4) Funeral and burial 
costs; and (5) Miscellaneous expenses.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Expense categories                  Subcategories and conditions                Expense limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical expenses, including dental and  Victim's medical care, including,         Up to $50,000.
 rehabilitation costs.                   without limitation, treatment, cure,
                                         and mitigation of disease or injury;
                                         replacement of medical devices,
                                         including, without limitation,
                                         eyeglasses or other corrective lenses,
                                         dental services, prosthetic devices,
                                         and prescription medication; and other
                                         services rendered in accordance with a
                                         method of healing recognized by the
                                         jurisdiction in which the medical care
                                         is administered..
                                        Victim's cost for physiotherapy;
                                         occupational therapy; counseling;
                                         workplace, vehicle, and home
                                         modifications..
                                        For example, if a victim were to sustain
                                         a physical injury, such as blindness or
                                         paralysis, which would affect his
                                         ability to perform current professional
                                         duties, physical rehabilitation to
                                         address work skills would be
                                         appropriate.

[[Page 52455]]

 
Mental health care....................  Victim's (and, when victim is a minor