Published April 05, 2016
The Latest on Rhode Island's legislation to compensate victims of terrorist attacks (all times local):
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5:45 p.m.
Legislation inspired by a Boston Marathon bombing survivor to compensate Rhode Island victims of terrorist attacks that happen outside the state is moving on to the full Senate after passing out of committee.
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to move the bill forward after testimony from Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.
Paiva Weed, of Newport, says she sponsored the bill because of the challenges faced by Boston Marathon bombing survivor and fellow Newport resident Heather Abbott.
Abbott applied for the state's compensation fund after losing her leg in the April 2013 attack but was initially denied her claim because of the ambiguity of the law.
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1:20 p.m.
Rhode Island lawmakers inspired by a resident who lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombings are moving forward on legislation to make victims of terrorist attacks eligible for compensation even if the attack happened outside the state.
Lawmakers say Heather Abbott had trouble applying for the state's crime victim compensation fund after the 2013 attack.
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner says the bill will prevent such hurdles in the future by clarifying conflicting language in the existing law. Magaziner administers the fund.
The House voted 68-0 to pass the bill last month. It faces a Senate committee hearing Tuesday.
Its sponsor is Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat. Abbott is a Newport resident.
The state initially denied Abbott's claim but then determined she was eligible.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-latest-bill-inspired-by-bombing-survivor-moves-forward