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PA HB545
Bill
Status
2/10/2025
Primary Sponsor
Regina Young
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AI Summary
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Creates a compensation system for wrongfully convicted individuals in Pennsylvania, providing $100,000 per year for those who faced death sentences, $75,000 per year for other imprisonment, and $50,000 per year spent on parole or probation, with annual cost-of-living adjustments beginning January 1, 2026
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Establishes eligibility criteria requiring conviction reversal, dismissal, or gubernatorial pardon based on actual innocence, with claims filed in Commonwealth Court within six years of release or conviction reversal (two years for those already released before the law takes effect)
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Waives sovereign and governmental immunity for wrongful conviction claims and exempts wrongful conviction proceedings from the standard six-month limitation period for claims against government entities
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Requires the Commonwealth to provide reintegration services to exonerated individuals including community corrections programs, general assistance, and medical assistance, with the Department of Corrections assisting their transition
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Allows additional compensation for reimbursement of fines, fees, restitution paid, mental and physical health care costs, and reasonable attorney fees (capped at 10% of damages or $75,000 for underlying conviction work), while offsetting any prior civil lawsuit awards against the statutory damages
Legislative Description
In limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.
Last Action
Referred to Judiciary
2/10/2025