bill adds a compensation path for the wrongfully imprisoned

The text as introduced · 522 words

89R10685 MZM-D

By: Campos
H.B. No. 2417

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain wrongfully imprisoned

persons for compensation and for the expunction of arrest records

and files in the case.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 103.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person is entitled to compensation if:

(1) the person has served in whole or in part a

sentence in prison under the laws of this state; and

(2) the person:

(A) has received a full pardon on the basis of

innocence for the crime for which the person was sentenced;

(B) has been granted relief in accordance with a

writ of habeas corpus that is based on a court finding or

determination that the person is actually innocent of the crime for

which the person was sentenced; [ or ]

(C) has been granted relief in accordance with a

writ of habeas corpus and:

(i) the state district court in which the

charge against the person was pending has entered an order

dismissing the charge; and

(ii) the district court's dismissal order

is based on a motion to dismiss in which the state's attorney states

that no credible evidence exists that inculpates the defendant and,

either in the motion or in an affidavit, the state's attorney states

that the state's attorney believes that the defendant is actually

innocent of the crime for which the person was sentenced ; or

(D) has had all records and files relating to the

person's arrest for a crime expunged under Article 55A.101(c), Code

of Criminal Procedure .

SECTION 2. Article 55A.101, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) Except as provided by Article 55A.151, a district court

may expunge all records and files relating to the arrest of a person

if:

(1) the person is:

(A) tried for the offense for which the person

was arrested; and

(B) convicted of the offense;

(2) the conviction is reversed on any grounds by the

court of criminal appeals or, if the period for granting a petition

for discretionary review has expired, by a court of appeals; and

(3) the office of the attorney representing the state

that prosecuted the offense for which the person was arrested

recommends the expunction to the court.

SECTION 3. (a) A person who meets the criteria of Section

103.001(a)(2)(D), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as added by

this Act, and who has not received compensation under Chapter 103,

Civil Practice and Remedies Code, before the effective date of this

Act, may file an application for compensation under Subchapter B,

Chapter 103, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, not later than the

third anniversary of the effective date of this Act.

(b) The change in law made by this Act in adding Article

55A.101(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, applies to the expunction

of arrest records and files for any criminal offense that occurred

before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.