AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE WRONGFULLY INCARCERATED.

This bill establishes a compensation program for individuals who were wrongfully incarcerated in the state after their convictions were overturned due to innocence or serious misconduct by state officials. To qualify, a person must have served time for a crime that was later vacated or reversed on specific grounds, and they must file a claim with the Claims Commissioner to prove their eligibility. The law sets a minimum compensation amount equal to twice the state's median family income for each year of incarceration, though the final award can be adjusted based on factors like the severity of the original crime and the individual's circumstances. In addition to monetary damages, the bill authorizes the Claims Commissioner to provide reintegration services such as housing assistance, education funding, healthcare, and child support payments. For awards exceeding twenty thousand dollars, the bill requires the General Assembly to review and potentially modify the amount within forty-five days.