Bill > S04855

This bill amends the Correction Law and the Tax Law to retroactively adjust the compensation of formerly incarcerated individuals who were unjustly convicted, and exempts such adjusted income from state income taxes. Specifically, the bill allows for compensation adjustments for individuals who were pardoned on grounds of innocence or had their convictions reversed or vacated on certain grounds outlined in the Criminal Procedure Law. The adjusted compensation is set at the greater of the current minimum wage, the current wage or industry standard wage of the trade or industry the individual was employed in or trained for, or the wage equivalent of the individual's salary at the time of conviction. The Department of Corrections is required to notify eligible individuals of their right to the compensation adjustment and to remit the owed monies within 90 days. The adjusted compensation is also exempted from state income taxation, regardless of federal taxation.