UNDER THE PROPOSED LAW (H. R. 7010), THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY A SHARE OF COMPENSATION COSTS UP TO A SET MAXIMUM. GOAL OF THE LEGISLATION WAS TO ASSIST EXISTING VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL ONES. USING DATA FROM EXISTING STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS A RECENT STUDY ON COMPENSATION COSTS FOR FEDERAL VICTIMS, COSTS OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS AS WELL AS OF THE TOTAL PROGRAM WERE ESTIMATED. FIRST YEAR PROGRAM COSTS WOULD BE $48.0 MILLION FOR STATE CRIME VICTIMS AND $2.2 MILLION FOR CRIME VICTIMS IN EXCLUSIVE FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS. UNDER THE AMENDED PROPOSAL, IN WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY 25 PERCENT OF THE COSTS, TOTAL FEDERAL COSTS WOULD BE $14.5 MILLION. COSTS WOULD BE LOWER UNDER THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM AWARD OF $35,000 OR THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM OF $20,000. ASSUMING ADOPTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CLAIMANTS INCURRING LOSS OF LESS THAN 5 WORKING DAYS' EARNINGS OR MEDICAL LOSSES OF UNDER $100 WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM COMPENSATION, THE ESTIMATED FEDERAL COST WOULD BE EVEN LESS. COSTS FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS SHOULD STAY BELOW THE PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS. COSTS WOULD DEPEND, HOWEVER, ON SUCH UNCERTAIN FACTORS AS THE RATE OF INCREASE IN MEDICAL CARE COSTS, THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE, AND THE EFFECT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON THE FILING OF CLAIMS. TABLES, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)