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. It allows individuals whose petitions were previously dismissed or who had not filed petitions to seek compensation. Furthermore, it clarifies that wrongfully incarcerated individuals are ineligible for compensation for any time served while concurrently serving a sentence for another felony conviction, and it eliminates previous exclusions related to violent felonies.

Additionally, the bill revises the compensation calculation to provide $50,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration, with inflation adjustments, and mandates that any civil judgment received by a claimant related to their wrongful incarceration will be deducted from their total compensation. It also establishes that the Chief Financial Officer cannot purchase an annuity for claimants who are currently incarcerated. The bill updates the continuing appropriation for wrongful conviction payments, changing the fiscal year from 2008-2009 to 2025-2026, and ensures that sufficient funds are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund for these payments. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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