HB394 Summary

• Adds a new eligibility category for wrongful incarceration compensation when a felony conviction is reversed on appeal due to ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct and the state declines to reprosecute.

• Provides $50,000 per year of incarceration for applicants eligible under existing categories (conviction overturned on grounds of innocence or pretrial detention dismissed based on innocence).

• Provides $25,000 per year of incarceration for applicants eligible under the new category of reversed convictions with state declining reprosecution, with pro rata amounts for partial years.

• Allows the compensation committee to recommend additional discretionary amounts beyond the base award, which must be presented to the Legislature as a separate bill.

• Takes effect on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.