State Agency Information

Claim Search Fee for State Agencies

Effective December 4, 2007, the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board began charging a $30 fee for a claim search request for the purpose of obtaining a certified copy of a Government Claims Program claim file.

Pursuant to Government Code section 11256, a state agency furnishing services and materials to another state agency may charge for the direct and indirect costs associated with the services and materials. The $30 claim search charge is consistent with the claim search fee currently charged for other agencies.

Questions regarding this new process may be directed to the Government Claims Program Manager, Jackie Tinetti, at (916) 491-3700.

State Agency Surcharge

When the Board approves an award on a claim filed against a state department or agency, the department is required to pay up to a 15 percent surcharge on that award to support the Government Claims Program.

• The surcharge defrays the cost of reviewing and analyzing the claim.
• The surcharge is calculated based on the amount of the claim. For example, the surcharge on a $1,000 claim is $150.
• The surcharge will not be assessed on claims that are rejected, such as the many tort claims that are filed in preparation for lawsuits.
• The surcharge applies both to claims paid through the omnibus claims bill and claims paid directly by the department.
• If the claim is paid through the claims bill, the surcharge will also be paid through the claims bill. The surcharge will be paid from the same fund that the claim is charged against.
• If a department pays a claim directly, the Board will send the department an invoice that explains the amount of the award as well as the surcharge.