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HF3000 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Payment of preliminary monetary damages to certain exonerated individuals authorized, exoneration compensation account in the special revenue fund established, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF3376

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to ensure timely financial compensation for individuals who have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. It does this by establishing a system for preliminary monetary compensation and setting up a dedicated exoneration compensation account to handle these payments.

Main Provisions

  • Preliminary Monetary Damages: Qualified individuals who are exonerated can receive immediate monetary compensation for the time they were wrongfully incarcerated. This compensation is set at $5,000 per year for incarceration and $2,500 per year for time served under supervised release or as a registered predatory offender. Partial years are prorated.

  • Prosecutor's Role: If the prosecutor joins the exoneration petition indicating that the original charges would not have been pursued with full knowledge of the circumstances, this establishes eligibility for compensation without further court procedures.

  • Exoneration Compensation Account: A new account is created within the state's special revenue fund specifically for handling preliminary compensation to exonerated individuals.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Compensation Process Adjustment: The bill modifies existing statutes by specifying the conditions under which a prosecutor's agreement or the court's decision can result in monetary compensation for exonerees.

  • New Financial Structures: Establishes the Exoneration Compensation Account within the state treasury, funded initially with $250,000, to ensure that funds are available specifically for preliminary compensations.

  • Funding Transfer Mechanism: Ensures a continuous balance in the exoneration compensation account by transferring equivalent amounts from the general fund after each preliminary damages payment, maintaining a baseline of $250,000.

Relevant Terms

exoneration, compensation, monetary damages, prosecutor, wrongful conviction, incarceration, exoneration compensation account, special revenue fund, preliminary damages, supervised release, predatory offender, court order, state treasury, general fund.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Introduces a new process where prosecutor's joinder conclusively establishes eligibility for compensation."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends compensation criteria for exonerations under section 590.11, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the role of prosecutors in compensation eligibility post-exoneration."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "590.11",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This legislation updates the notice and acceptance process for damage awards under section 611.365, subdivision 4.",
      "modified": [
        "Excludes preliminary monetary damages from the notice requirements applicable to final awards."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "611.365",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  }
]

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