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2023 Florida Statutes (including 2023C)

Title XLVII CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 961 VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL INCARCERATION COMPENSATION Entire Chapter
SECTION 06
Compensation for wrongful incarceration.
F.S. 961.06
961.06 Compensation for wrongful incarceration.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this act and subject to the limitations and procedures prescribed in this section, a person who is found to be entitled to compensation under the provisions of this act is entitled to:
(a) Monetary compensation for wrongful incarceration, which shall be calculated at a rate of $50,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration, prorated as necessary to account for a portion of a year. For persons found to be wrongfully incarcerated after December 31, 2008, the Chief Financial Officer may adjust the annual rate of compensation for inflation using the change in the December-to-December “Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers” of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor;
(b) A waiver of tuition and fees for up to 120 hours of instruction at any career center established under s. 1001.44, any Florida College System institution as defined in s. 1000.21(5), or any state university as defined in s. 1000.21(8), if the wrongfully incarcerated person meets and maintains the regular admission requirements of such career center, Florida College System institution, or state university; remains registered at such educational institution; and makes satisfactory academic progress as defined by the educational institution in which the claimant is enrolled;
(c) The amount of any fine, penalty, or court costs imposed and paid by the wrongfully incarcerated person;
(d) The amount of any reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred and paid by the wrongfully incarcerated person in connection with all criminal proceedings and appeals regarding the wrongful conviction, to be calculated by the department based upon the supporting documentation submitted as specified in s. 961.05; and
(e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in s. 943.0583 or s. 943.0585, immediate administrative expunction of the person’s criminal record resulting from his or her wrongful arrest, wrongful conviction, and wrongful incarceration. The Department of Legal Affairs and the Department of Law Enforcement shall, upon a determination that a claimant is entitled to compensation, immediately take all action necessary to administratively expunge the claimant’s criminal record arising from his or her wrongful arrest, wrongful conviction, and wrongful incarceration. All fees for this process shall be waived.

The total compensation awarded under paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) may not exceed $2 million. No further award for attorney’s fees, lobbying fees, costs, or other similar expenses shall be made by the state.

(2) In calculating monetary compensation under paragraph (1)(a), a wrongfully incarcerated person who is placed on parole or community supervision while serving the sentence resulting from the wrongful conviction and who commits no more than one felony that is not a violent felony which results in revocation of the parole or community supervision is eligible for compensation for the total number of years incarcerated. A wrongfully incarcerated person who commits one violent felony or more than one felony that is not a violent felony that results in revocation of the parole or community supervision is ineligible for any compensation under subsection (1).
(3) Within 15 calendar days after issuing notice to the claimant that his or her claim satisfies all of the requirements under this act, the department shall notify the Chief Financial Officer to draw a warrant from the General Revenue Fund or another source designated by the Legislature in law for the purchase of an annuity for the claimant based on the total amount determined by the department under this act.
(4) The Chief Financial Officer shall issue payment in the amount determined by the department to an insurance company or other financial institution admitted and authorized to issue annuity contracts in this state to purchase an annuity or annuities, selected by the wrongfully incarcerated person, for a term of not less than 10 years. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to execute all necessary agreements to implement this act and to maximize the benefit to the wrongfully incarcerated person. The terms of the annuity or annuities shall:
(a) Provide that the annuity or annuities may not be sold, discounted, or used as security for a loan or mortgage by the wrongfully incarcerated person.
(b) Contain beneficiary provisions for the continued disbursement of the annuity or annuities in the event of the death of the wrongfully incarcerated person.
(5) Before the department approves the application for compensation, the wrongfully incarcerated person must sign a release and waiver on behalf of the wrongfully incarcerated person and his or her heirs, successors, and assigns, forever releasing the state or any agency, instrumentality, or any political subdivision thereof, or any other entity subject to s. 768.28, from all present or future claims that the wrongfully incarcerated person or his or her heirs, successors, or assigns may have against such entities arising out of the facts in connection with the wrongful conviction for which compensation is being sought under the act.
(6)(a) A wrongfully incarcerated person may not submit an application for compensation under this act if the person has a lawsuit pending against the state or any agency, instrumentality, or any political subdivision thereof, or any other entity subject to the provisions of s. 768.28, in state or federal court requesting compensation arising out of the facts in connection with the claimant’s conviction and incarceration.
(b) A wrongfully incarcerated person may not submit an application for compensation under this act if the person is the subject of a claim bill pending for claims arising out of the facts in connection with the claimant’s conviction and incarceration.
(c) Once an application is filed under this act, a wrongfully incarcerated person may not pursue recovery under a claim bill until the final disposition of the application.
(d) Any amount awarded under this act is intended to provide the sole compensation for any and all present and future claims arising out of the facts in connection with the claimant’s conviction and incarceration. Upon notification by the department that an application meets the requirements of this act, a wrongfully incarcerated person may not recover under a claim bill.
(e) Any compensation awarded under a claim bill shall be the sole redress for claims arising out of the facts in connection with the claimant’s conviction and incarceration and, upon any award of compensation to a wrongfully incarcerated person under a claim bill, the person may not receive compensation under this act.
(7) Any payment made under this act does not constitute a waiver of any defense of sovereign immunity or an increase in the limits of liability on behalf of the state or any person subject to the provisions of s. 768.28 or other law.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2008-39; s. 6, ch. 2013-98; s. 3, ch. 2014-198; s. 103, ch. 2015-2; s. 3, ch. 2017-120; s. 134, ch. 2023-8.