SB 141

Currently, the claims board is directed to hear petitions for compensation by

persons who are released from imprisonment for crimes of which they claim to be

innocent. If the board finds that the petitioner was innocent and that he or she did

not by his or her own act or failure to act contribute to or bring about the conviction

and imprisonment for which he or she seeks compensation, the board must award

the petitioner compensation not to exceed $25,000 total nor more than $5,000 for

each year of imprisonment. Any award is paid from state general purpose revenues.

If the board determines that it is not able to award an adequate compensation, it is

directed to submit a report to the legislature specifying the amount that it considers

to be adequate.

This bill increases the limit on the amount of compensation to a rate of $15,000

per year and eliminates the limit on the total amount of an award. Under the bill,

the $15,000 limit is subject to an annual adjustment based upon changes in the cost

of living.

The bill also exempts from taxation the payments that an individual, or his or

her estate, receives from the claims board, or from the state legislature as a result

of claims board action.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be

referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed

as an appendix to the bill.