(a) The Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may, as part of any order entered under sections 54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, determine and allow reasonable attorney's fees, which shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the amount awarded as compensation under section 54-208, to be paid out of but not in addition to the amount of such compensation. No attorney shall ask for, contract for or receive any larger sum than the amount so allowed.
(b) The attorney representing the victim shall pay providers as documented by the Office of Victim Services. The attorney shall communicate with providers regarding outstanding balances after attorney's fees are deducted, and shall ensure payment to such providers.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 6, 17; P.A. 87-554, S. 5; P.A. 93-310, S. 5, 32; P.A. 01-211, S. 19; P.A. 03-189, S. 2; P.A. 17-99, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 87-554 substituted “commission” for “board”; P.A. 93-310 changed “The commission” to “A victim compensation commissioner”, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 01-211 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) re direct payment to health care providers for health care services rendered to the victim; P.A. 03-189 deleted Subsec. (a) designator, added reference to the Office of Victim Services and provision re review by victim compensation commissioner and deleted former Subsec. (b) re payment to health care providers; P.A. 17-99 redesignated existing provision re attorney's fees as Subsec. (a), amended same by replacing reference to Sec. 54-233 with reference to Sec. 54-218 and making a technical change, and added Subsec. (b) re attorney representing victim to pay providers as documented by the Office of Victim Services.