(a)  Whenever any person is convicted of an offense and compensation is awarded under this chapter or under the 1972 Act for a personal injury or death resulting from the act constituting the offense, the state of Rhode Island shall institute an action against that person for the recovery of the whole or any specified part of the compensation in the superior court of the state of Rhode Island in any county, or in the state or federal court of any other state or district in which that person resides or is found, or make a finding in writing, of the reasons why it is impractical or impossible to institute that action. The office shall pursue the recovery whenever possible in order to provide additional funds for the violent crimes indemnity account. The administrator shall develop rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of Title 42, to identify those so convicted, determine their ability to compensate the fund, and file whatever action is appropriate to recoup those funds.

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(b)  Process of the superior court for any county in any action under this section may be served by the sheriff of the county. Whenever it appears to the court in which any action under this section is pending that other parties should be brought before the court in the action, the court may cause those other parties to be summoned.

(c)  An order for the payment of compensation under this chapter or under the 1972 Act shall not affect the right of any person to recover damages from any other person by a civil action for the injury or death.

(d)  An action instituted by the state of Rhode Island against any person for the recovery of the whole or any specified part of the compensation awarded under this chapter or under the 1972 Act shall be commenced within ten (10) years from the date compensation is awarded, and not thereafter.