Substitute Senate Bill No. 458 - Summary

• Establishes an Office of the Claims Commissioner within the Department of Administrative Services with independent decision-making authority, allowing magistrates to assist in hearing and determining claims under the Claims Commissioner's supervision.

• Increases the Claims Commissioner's authority to order immediate payment of just claims up to $20,000 (previously lower threshold) without General Assembly approval, with claims exceeding $20,000 submitted to the General Assembly for review.

• Requires the Claims Commissioner to render decisions within 90 days of hearing a claim and mandates reporting to the General Assembly on claims pending more than two years, with provisions for General Assembly to grant extensions or authorize claimants to sue the state.

• Modifies the statute of limitations for claims to one year from accrual (or three years from the act complained of for injury/property damage) and establishes specific procedures for inmate claims, requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies before filing with the Office.

• Reforms the wrongful incarceration compensation statute to establish a minimum compensation amount based on median household income for each year incarcerated, adjusted for inflation, with the Claims Commissioner authorized to award up to 200% of that amount based on relevant factors.