HB 13-1230: Compensation for Exonerated Persons

• Establishes a civil process allowing persons wrongly convicted and incarcerated in Colorado to petition district courts for compensation based on a finding of "actual innocence" by clear and convincing evidence.

• Provides monetary compensation of $70,000 per year of incarceration for felonies, plus $50,000 per year for death sentences and $25,000 per year for post-incarceration parole, probation, or sex offender registration resulting from the wrongful conviction.

• Requires annual payments of up to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) made by state court administrator; recipients must complete a personal financial management course before receiving second payment and obtain qualified health insurance or face $10,000 annual reduction.

• Grants tuition waivers at Colorado state institutions of higher education for exonerated persons and their children if wrongfully incarcerated at least three years, and orders expungement of all records related to the wrongful conviction.

• Appropriates $230,582 total for implementation including judicial administration, legal department staffing, and higher education programs.