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Bill > S0130


FL S0130

FL S0130
Compensation of Victims of Wrongful Incarceration


summary

Introduced
12/20/2024
In Committee
04/28/2025
Crossed Over
03/27/2025
Passed
06/27/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
06/30/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to compensation of victims of wrongful incarceration; amending s. 961.02, F.S.; deleting the definition of the term “violent felony”; amending s. 961.03, F.S.; expanding the period during which a petition for compensation for wrongful incarceration may be filed; providing that certain persons who had petitions dismissed or who had not previously filed such petitions may file such petitions; amending s. 961.04, F.S.; providing that a wrongfully incarcerated person is not eligible for compensation for any period of incarceration during which the person was concurrently serving a sentence for a conviction of another felony for which such person was lawfully incarcerated; deleting provisions excluding persons convicted of violent felonies from compensation; deleting other exclusions; amending s. 961.06, F.S.; revising provisions concerning the offset of civil judgments in favor of claimants against awards; providing that the Chief Financial Officer may not draw a warrant to purchase an annuity for a claimant in certain circumstances; requiring the Chief Financial Officer to draw a warrant after a certain term has concluded; amending s. 961.07, F.S.; revising provisions concerning a continuing appropriation for certain payments; providing that certain payments are subject to specific appropriation; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill expands compensation provisions for individuals who have been wrongfully incarcerated by making several key changes to Florida law. The bill extends the timeframe for filing petitions for compensation, allowing individuals who previously had petitions dismissed or who had not filed petitions to now do so, with a deadline of July 1, 2027. It removes previous restrictions that excluded people with prior felony convictions from receiving compensation, instead only preventing compensation for periods when an individual was concurrently serving a lawful sentence for another felony. The bill modifies the compensation calculation to provide $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration, with provisions for adjusting for inflation, and includes additional benefits like tuition waivers, reimbursement of fines and legal fees, and automatic expunction of criminal records. The legislation also introduces new provisions regarding civil judgments, requiring that any monetary awards from civil suits related to wrongful incarceration be offset against the state compensation. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Chief Financial Officer cannot draw a warrant to purchase an annuity for a claimant who is currently incarcerated for an unrelated felony, but must do so after their incarceration term concludes. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive and accessible compensation for individuals who have been wrongfully imprisoned.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Chapter No. 2025-194 (on 06/30/2025)

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