Sec. 5.
(1) A claim may be filed by the person eligible to receive an award or, if a person is a minor, by his or her parent or guardian.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a claim shall be filed by the claimant not later than 1 year after the occurrence of the crime upon which the claim is based, except as follows:
(a) If police records show that a victim of criminal sexual conduct in the first, second, or third degree was less than 18 years of age at the time of the occurrence and that the victim reported the crime before attaining 19 years of age, a claim based on that crime may be filed by a person listed in section 4(1)(a), (b), or (c) not later than 1 year after the crime was reported.
(b) A claim may be filed within 1 year after the discovery by a law enforcement agency that injuries previously determined to be accidental, of unknown origin, or resulting from natural causes, were incurred as the result of a crime.
(3) Upon petition by the claimant and for good cause shown, the commission may extend the period in which a claim may be filed under subsection (2).
(4) A claim shall be filed in the commission's office in person or by mail. The commission shall accept for filing a claim that is submitted by a person who is eligible and which alleges the jurisdictional requirements set forth in this act and meets the requirements as to form as approved by the commission.
(5) Upon filing of a claim by a person listed in section 4(1)(a), (b), or (c), the commission shall promptly notify the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have occurred. If, within 20 days after the notification, the prosecuting attorney advises the commission that a criminal prosecution is pending upon the same alleged crime and requests that action by the commission be deferred, the commission shall defer the proceedings until the criminal prosecution is concluded. When the criminal prosecution is concluded, the prosecuting attorney shall promptly notify the commission. This section does not prohibit the commission from granting emergency awards pursuant to section 9 or from paying a health care provider under section 5a.
History: 1976, Act 223, Eff. Mar. 31, 1977 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 157, Imd. Eff. Nov. 15, 1985 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 367, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 316, Imd. Eff. Dec. 20, 1990 ;-- Am. 1993, Act 348, Imd. Eff. Jan. 10, 1994 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 519, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 1997 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 390, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2008