The governing body of the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) consists of three members: the Secretary of the Government Operations Agency who serves as the chair, the State Controller, and a public member appointed by the Governor. The VCGCB provides responsive financial compensation to remedy the financial burdens of victims of crime through a stable Restitution Fund, and for those with claims against the state, an opportunity to resolve those claims or proceed with other remedies. The primary objectives of the VCGCB are to:
- Compensate victims of violent crime and eligible family members for certain crime-related financial losses.
- Review and act upon civil claims against the state for money or damages.
- Resolve bid protests with respect to the awarding of state contracts for the procurement of goods and services.
- Provide for reimbursement of counties' expenditures for special elections called for by the Governor to fill vacant seats in the Legislature and Congress.
- Determine the eligibility of individuals for compensation for pecuniary injury sustained through erroneous conviction and imprisonment.
- Process claims for the Missing Children Reward Program to assist local law enforcement agencies or other parties involved in the identification and recovery of missing children in California.
- Assist with the administration of the California State Employees Charitable Campaign.
- Process claims through the Good Samaritan Program to private citizens who are injured rescuing another person, preventing a crime, or assisting a law enforcement officer.