The bill amends Florida Statutes concerning compensation for victims of wrongful incarceration by removing the definition of "violent felony" and extending the timeframe for filing compensation petitions from 90 days to 2 years after a conviction is vacated. This change allows individuals whose previous petitions were dismissed or who had not filed to seek compensation. However, the bill prohibits heirs or successors of deceased individuals from filing petitions and states that individuals wrongfully incarcerated are ineligible for compensation during any time they were concurrently serving a sentence for another felony conviction.

Additionally, the bill establishes a compensation rate of $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration and introduces provisions regarding the offset of civil judgments against compensation awards. It restricts the Chief Financial Officer from purchasing annuities for claimants under certain conditions and clarifies that compensation awarded under this act is the sole remedy for claims related to wrongful conviction and incarceration. The bill also updates the fiscal year for appropriations to 2025-2026 and ensures that sufficient funds are allocated from the General Revenue Fund for approved payments, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 59 Filed: 961.02, 961.03, 961.04, 961.06, 961.07
H 59 c1: 961.02, 961.03, 961.04, 961.06, 961.07