Committee advances bill easing Board of Claims access for people judicially exonerated
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Summary
House Bill 592 would allow certain people whose convictions were overturned through innocence litigation and whose charges were dismissed to file directly with the Board of Claims for compensation; the committee advanced the bill to Finance with a clarification that a one-year window would permit some past exonerees to file.
Representative Doggett told the committee House Bill 592 streamlines the process for people who have been judicially exonerated to seek compensation from the Board of Claims. Under the bill, a person whose conviction is overturned pursuant to innocence litigation and for whom the state dismisses all charges could go directly to the Board of Claims.
Doggett said the change would apply prospectively but legal staff said the bill includes a one-year period from the bill’s effective date during which people whose convictions were overturned in the past could also file; legal counsel said the provision applies to convictions vacated under specified statutes based on new evidence (not gubernatorial pardons).
Legal counsel identified a cap of $1,000,000 in the aggregate for compensation. Doggett said there have been only 36 exonerations in the state’s history and noted an example — Joyce Watkins — who would be eligible under the proposed language.
The committee voted to advance the bill to Finance; the clerk recorded 19 ayes.
Why it matters: The bill changes the route to claim compensation for a small number of people who have been judicially exonerated and clarifies eligibility windows and an aggregate cap on compensation.
What’s next: HB592 moves to the Finance Committee for further consideration.