HB 17-1071

House Bill 17-1071, which has been signed into law, allows people who were convicted of a crime and had to pay money as part of their punishment to get that money back if their conviction was later overturned. This applies whether the charges were dropped or they were found not guilty in a new trial, or if they paid more restitution than they actually owed after an order was reversed. The state court administrator is responsible for issuing these refunds to eligible individuals. This law helps ensure fairness for those who have had their convictions vacated and want to recover funds they previously paid.

Official Summary

The bill establishes a process for a defendant who has paid a monetary amount due for a criminal conviction in a district or county court to request a refund of the amount paid if: The conviction was overturned and either the charges were dismissed or the person was acquitted following a new trial; or All or part of an order for restitution was reversed and the defendant paid more restitution than was ultimately ordered. The bill directs the state court administrator to pay to the defendant the amount of any refund found due.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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