San Bernardino Mass Shooting Victims Will Receive Faster Access To State Benefits

The state of California will make it easier for victims of the San Bernardino mass shooting to receive benefits.

The state Victim Compensation Program reimburses victims of violent crime for medical, mental health, and funeral services that would not otherwise be covered by insurance.

Vetting can usually take as long as 90 days, but program executive officer Julie Nauman says San Bernardino victims will be approved more quickly.

"We know they’re coming, we know they’ve been vetted, we know who these people are, so normal steps we go through to verify eligibility really have already been taken care of, and that’s a major time saver," says Nauman.    

Nauman says as many as 200 people—including family members and witnesses—could be eligible for compensation through the program.

The state is also pursuing a federal grant to help victims.