SB3682 Summary

• Amends the Court of Claims Act to establish a fixed compensation rate of $50,000 per year for persons wrongfully imprisoned who received a gubernatorial pardon on grounds of innocence or a certificate of innocence from circuit court.

• Requires courts to prorate the $50,000 annual award for partial years of wrongful imprisonment and include time spent awaiting trial in the calculation.

• Eliminates previous discretionary award amounts that capped compensation at $85,350 for 5 years or less, $170,000 for 6-14 years, and $199,150 for over 14 years of imprisonment.

• Maintains attorney's fees at no more than 25% of the awarded amount and requires annual adjustment of awards based on the Consumer Price Index with a maximum 5% annual increase.

• Applies retroactively to all claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of this amending act.