S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4440
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the court of claims act and the tax law, in relation to
claims for unjust conviction; to amend the education law, in relation
to establishing wrongful conviction recovery scholarships; and to
amend the civil service law, in relation to allowing additional cred-
its for the wrongfully convicted
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "wrongful
conviction recovery act".
§ 2. Section 8-b of the court of claims act, as added by chapter 1009
of the laws of 1984, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 210 of the laws
of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8-b. Claims for unjust conviction [and imprisonment]. 1. The legis-
lature finds and declares that innocent persons who have been wrongly
convicted of crimes [and subsequently imprisoned] have been frustrated
in seeking legal redress due to a variety of substantive and technical
obstacles in the law and that such persons should have an available
avenue of redress over and above the existing tort remedies to seek
compensation for damages. The legislature intends by enactment of the
provisions of this section that those innocent persons who can demon-
strate by [clear and convincing] A PREPONDERANCE OF THE evidence that
they were unjustly convicted [and imprisoned] be able to recover damages
against the state. In light of the substantial burden of proof that must
be carried by such persons, it is the intent of the legislature that the
court, in exercising its discretion as permitted by law regarding the
weight and admissibility of evidence submitted pursuant to this section,
shall, in the interest of justice, give due consideration to difficul-
ties of proof caused by the passage of time, the death or unavailability
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08481-01-5
A. 4440 2
of witnesses, the destruction of evidence or other factors not caused by
such persons or those acting on their behalf.
2. Any person convicted [and subsequently imprisoned] for one or more
felonies or misdemeanors against the state which [he] SUCH PERSON did
not commit may, under the conditions hereinafter provided, present a
claim for damages against the state. In scheduling court appearances and
filing deadlines, the court shall give docket priority at each stage of
the proceeding to such claims for damages under this subdivision where
the claimant asserts proof of innocence through DNA evidence. Any
adjournments granted in the course of such a proceeding should be for as
short a time as is practicable.
3. In order to present the claim for unjust conviction [and imprison-
ment], claimant must establish by documentary evidence that:
(a) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT has been convicted of one or more felonies or
misdemeanors against the state [and subsequently sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, and has served all or any part of the sentence]; and
(b) (i) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT has been pardoned upon the ground of inno-
cence of the crime or crimes for which [he was] THEY WERE sentenced and
which are the grounds for the complaint; or (ii) [his] THEIR judgment of
conviction was reversed or vacated, and the accusatory instrument
dismissed or, if a new trial was ordered, either [he] THE CLAIMANT was
found not guilty at the new trial or [he] SUCH CLAIMANT was not retried
and the accusatory instrument dismissed; provided that the [judgement]
JUDGMENT of conviction was reversed or vacated, and the accusatory
instrument was dismissed, on any of the following grounds: (A) [para-
graph (a), (b), (c), (e) or (g) of] subdivision one of section 440.10 of
the criminal procedure law; or (B) [subdivision one (where based upon
grounds set forth in item (A) hereof), two, three (where the count
dismissed was the sole basis for the imprisonment complained of) or five
of] section 470.20 of the criminal procedure law; or (C) comparable
provisions of the former code of criminal procedure or subsequent law;
or (D) the statute, or application thereof, on which the accusatory
instrument was based violated the constitution of the United States or
the state of New York; and
(c) [his] THEIR claim is not time-barred by the provisions of subdivi-
sion seven of this section.
4. The claim shall state facts in sufficient detail to permit the
court to find that claimant is likely to succeed at trial in proving
that (a) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT did not commit any of the acts charged in
the accusatory instrument or [his] THEIR acts or omissions charged in
the accusatory instrument did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor
against the state, and (b) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT did not by [his] THEIR own
conduct cause or bring about [his] THEIR conviction. The claim shall be
verified by the claimant. If the court finds after reading the claim
that claimant is not likely to succeed at trial, it shall dismiss the
claim, either on its own motion or on the motion of the state.
5. In order to obtain a judgment in [his] THEIR favor, claimant must
prove by [clear and convincing] A PREPONDERANCE OF THE evidence that:
(a) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT has been convicted of one or more felonies or
misdemeanors against the state [and subsequently sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, and has served all or any part of the sentence]; and
(b) (i) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT has been pardoned upon the ground of inno-
cence of the crime or crimes for which [he] SUCH CLAIMANT was sentenced
and which are the grounds for the complaint; or (ii) [his] THEIR judg-
ment of conviction was reversed or vacated, and the accusatory instru-
ment dismissed or, if a new trial was ordered, either [he] THE CLAIMANT
A. 4440 3
was found not guilty at the new trial or [he] SUCH CLAIMANT was not
retried and the accusatory instrument dismissed; provided that the
[judgement] JUDGMENT of conviction was reversed or vacated, and the
accusatory instrument was dismissed, on any of the following grounds:
(A) [paragraph (a), (b), (c), (e) or (g) of] subdivision one of section
440.10 of the criminal procedure law; or (B) [subdivision one (where
based upon grounds set forth in item (A) hereof), two, three (where the
count dismissed was the sole basis for the imprisonment complained of)
or five of] section 470.20 of the criminal procedure law; or (C) compa-
rable provisions of the former code of criminal procedure or subsequent
law; or (D) the statute, or application thereof, on which the accusatory
instrument was based violated the constitution of the United States or
the state of New York; and
(c) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT did not commit any of the acts [charged in the
accusatory instrument or his acts or omissions charged in the accusatory
instrument] OR OMISSIONS FOR WHICH SUCH CLAIMANT WAS CONVICTED OR THEIR
ACTS OR OMISSIONS did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor against the
state; and
(d) [he] SUCH CLAIMANT did not by [his] THEIR own conduct cause or
bring about [his] THEIR conviction.
6. If the court finds that the claimant is entitled to a judgment, it
shall award damages in such sum of money as the court determines will
fairly and reasonably compensate [him] SUCH CLAIMANT, PROVIDED, IF THE
CLAIMANT WAS INCARCERATED, SUCH SUM SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN AN AWARD
CALCULATED AT A RATE OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR DURING WHICH THE
CLAIMANT WAS INCARCERATED AND WAS NOT UNDER SENTENCE FOR A SEPARATE
CRIME. THE COURT MAY ALSO AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES INCURRED IN
THE CLAIMANT'S DEFENSE AT TRIAL, INCLUDING ANY POST-TRIAL MOTIONS OR
APPEALS, IN THE PROCESS OF VACATING OR REVERSING THEIR CRIMINAL
CONVICTION, AND IN THE PURSUIT OF A CLAIM UNDER THIS SECTION.
7. Any person claiming compensation under this section based on a
pardon that was granted before the effective date of this section or the
dismissal of an accusatory instrument that occurred before the effective
date of THE CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE THAT AMENDED
this section shall file [his] THEIR claim within two years after [the]
SUCH effective date [of this section]. Any person claiming compensation
under this section based on a pardon that was granted on or after the
effective date of this section or the dismissal of an accusatory instru-
ment that occurred on or after the effective date of THE CHAPTER OF THE
LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE THAT AMENDED this section shall file
[his] THEIR claim within [two] THREE years after the pardon or dismiss-
al.
§ 3. Subsection (c) of section 612 of the tax law is amended by adding
a new paragraph 48 to read as follows:
(48) THE AMOUNT OF ANY DAMAGE AWARDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO SECTION
EIGHT-B OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS ACT AND NOT EXCLUDABLE FROM FEDERAL
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.
§ 4. The education law is amended by adding a new section 668-h to
read as follows:
§ 668-H. WRONGFUL CONVICTION RECOVERY SCHOLARSHIPS. 1. ELIGIBLE
PERSONS. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED
SIXTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE, INDIVIDUALS PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT-B OF
THE COURT OF CLAIMS ACT THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE ENTITLED TO A
JUDGMENT FOR UNJUST CONVICTION OR UPON THEIR ELECTION ANY CHILDREN OF AN
INDIVIDUAL HAVING BEEN DETERMINED TO BE ENTITLED TO A JUDGMENT FOR
A. 4440 4
UNJUST CONVICTION SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A WRONGFUL CONVICTION
RECOVERY SCHOLARSHIP.
2. AMOUNT. (A) THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ANY
PERSON ELIGIBLE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION. RECIPIENTS
SHALL BE GRANTED ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS IF THEY ARE ATTENDING AN INSTITU-
TION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR AN INSTITUTION OF THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK INCLUDING THE STATUTORY COLLEGES AT CORNELL, THE
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORESTRY AT SYRACUSE AND THE
COLLEGE OF CERAMICS AT ALFRED. THE ANNUAL AWARD SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL
TO THE TUITION CHARGED AT SUCH INSTITUTION PROVIDED THAT, NOTWITHSTAND-
ING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE TUITION CHARGED TO AWARD
RECIPIENTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THAT CHARGED TO STATE RESIDENT STUDENTS
ATTENDING SUCH INSTITUTION; THE MANDATORY FEES CHARGED AT SUCH INSTITU-
TION; AND THE NON-TUITION COST OF ATTENDANCE AT SUCH INSTITUTION OR
COLLEGE, PROVIDED THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP SHALL NOT EXCEED AN AMOUNT THAT
IS EQUAL TO THE TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE DETERMINED FOR FEDERAL TITLE IV
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PURPOSES, LESS ALL OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
PROVIDED BY NEW YORK STATE, OTHER STATES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR
OTHER GOVERNMENTS, AND THE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS PAID UNDER ANY
PROGRAM THAT WOULD DUPLICATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROGRAM, PROVIDED THAT
ANY SCHOLARSHIPS OR GRANTS PROVIDED TO A RECIPIENT BY THE INSTITUTION
WHICH ARE INTENDED TO FUND ANY PORTION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
ANNUAL STATE AWARD AND THE ACTUAL COSTS OF ATTENDANCE AT ANY SUCH INSTI-
TUTION SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TO DUPLICATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS
PROGRAM.
(B) "NON-TUITION COST OF ATTENDANCE", AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION,
SHALL MEAN: (I) THE ACTUAL AMOUNT CHARGED BY THE INSTITUTION FOR ROOM
AND BOARD, AND (II) AN ALLOWANCE FOR TRANSPORTATION, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
AS DETERMINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE
BUDGET, PROVIDED THAT SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE NO LATER THAN
DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR FOR USE IN THE SUCCEEDING ACADEMIC YEAR. IN
THE EVENT A STUDENT DOES NOT INCUR ROOM OR BOARD CHARGES AT THE INSTITU-
TION, "NON-TUITION COST OF ATTENDANCE" SHALL MEAN AN ALLOWANCE FOR ROOM
AND BOARD AS DETERMINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF
THE BUDGET. IN DETERMINING ALLOWANCES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THE
PRESIDENT MAY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ALLOWANCES PROVIDED FOR IN THE
PELL GRANT PROGRAM.
(C) IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMBINATION OF ALL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
RECEIVED BY A STUDENT EXCEED A RECIPIENT'S TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE AT
THE INSTITUTION BEING ATTENDED.
3. DURATION. AWARDS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE PAYABLE FOR EACH OF
NOT MORE THAN FOUR ACADEMIC YEARS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDY OR FIVE ACADEM-
IC YEARS IF A PROGRAM NORMALLY REQUIRES FIVE YEARS, AS DEFINED BY THE
COMMISSIONER PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTEEN OF THIS TITLE.
§ 5. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 85-d to
read as follows:
§ 85-D. ADDITIONAL CREDITS ALLOWED FOR THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED. 1.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT AUTHORIZED. ADDITIONAL CREDITS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO
SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANTS UNDER SECTION EIGHT-B OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS ACT IN
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT. (A) ON ALL ELIGIBLE
LISTS RESULTING FROM COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS, THE NAMES OF ELIGIBLE
PERSONS SHALL BE ENTERED IN THE ORDER OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FINAL EARNED
RATINGS ON EXAMINATIONS, WITH THE NAME OF THE ELIGIBLE PERSON WITH THE
HIGHEST FINAL EARNED RATINGS AT THE HEAD OF SUCH LIST, PROVIDED, HOWEV-
ER, THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING FINAL EARNED RATINGS, SUCCESSFUL
CLAIMANTS UNDER SECTION EIGHT-B OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS ACT SHALL BE
A. 4440 5
ENTITLED TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL TEN POINTS IN A COMPETITIVE EXAMINA-
TION FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT.
(B) SUCH ADDITIONAL CREDIT SHALL BE ADDED TO THE FINAL EARNED RATING
OF SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT AFTER SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT HAS QUALIFIED
IN THE COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION AND SHALL BE GRANTED ONLY AT THE TIME OF
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESULTING ELIGIBLE LIST.
2. APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL CREDIT; PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY; ESTABLISH-
MENT OF ELIGIBLE LIST. ANY CANDIDATE, BELIEVING THEMSELF ENTITLED TO
ADDITIONAL CREDIT IN A COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION AS PROVIDED IN THIS
SECTION, MAY MAKE APPLICATION FOR SUCH ADDITIONAL CREDIT AT ANY TIME
BETWEEN THE DATE OF THEIR APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION AND THE DATE OF
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESULTING ELIGIBLE LIST. SUCH CANDIDATE SHALL
BE ALLOWED A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE
FILING OF THEIR APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION IN WHICH TO ESTABLISH BY
APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTARY PROOF THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
CREDIT UNDER THIS SECTION. AT ANY TIME AFTER TWO MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED
SINCE THE FINAL DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS FOR A COMPETITIVE EXAMINA-
TION FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT, THE ELIGIBLE LIST RESULTING FROM SUCH
EXAMINATION MAY BE ESTABLISHED, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT A SUCCESS-
FUL CLAIMANT WHO HAS APPLIED FOR ADDITIONAL CREDIT HAS FAILED TO ESTAB-
LISH THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE SUCH ADDITIONAL CREDIT. A CANDIDATE
WHO FAILS TO ESTABLISH, BY APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTARY PROOF, THEIR ELIGI-
BILITY TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL CREDIT BY THE TIME AN ELIGIBLE LIST IS
ESTABLISHED SHALL NOT THEREAFTER BE GRANTED ADDITIONAL CREDIT ON SUCH
ELIGIBLE LIST.
3. USE OF ADDITIONAL CREDIT. (A) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS
SUBDIVISION, NO PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED A PERMANENT ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT
IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE STATE OR OF ANY CITY OR CIVIL DIVISION THER-
EOF FROM AN ELIGIBLE LIST ON WHICH SUCH PERSON WAS ALLOWED THE ADDI-
TIONAL CREDIT GRANTED BY THIS SECTION AS A SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT, SHALL
THEREAFTER BE ENTITLED TO ANY ADDITIONAL CREDIT UNDER THIS SECTION AS A
SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT.
(B) WHERE, AT THE TIME OF ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELIGIBLE LIST, THE POSI-
TION OF A SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT ON SUCH LIST HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE
ADDITION OF CREDITS GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION, THE APPOINTMENT OF SUCH
SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT FROM SUCH ELIGIBLE LIST SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE
BEEN MADE FROM AN ELIGIBLE LIST ON WHICH SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT WAS
ALLOWED THE ADDITIONAL CREDIT GRANTED BY THIS SECTION.
(C) IF, AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT FROM AN ELIGIBLE LIST, A SUCCESSFUL
CLAIMANT IS IN THE SAME RELATIVE STANDING AMONG THE ELIGIBLE PERSONS WHO
ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT APPOINTMENT AS IF SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT HAD
NOT BEEN GRANTED THE ADDITIONAL CREDITS AS PROVIDED BY THIS SECTION,
THEIR APPOINTMENT FROM SUCH ELIGIBLE PERSONS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE
BEEN MADE FROM AN ELIGIBLE LIST ON WHICH SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT WAS
ALLOWED SUCH ADDITIONAL CREDITS.
(D) WHERE A SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT HAS BEEN ORIGINALLY APPOINTED FROM AN
ELIGIBLE LIST ON WHICH SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT WAS ALLOWED SUCH ADDI-
TIONAL CREDIT, BUT SUCH APPOINTMENT IS THEREAFTER TERMINATED EITHER AT
THE END OF THE PROBATIONARY TERM OR BY RESIGNATION AT OR BEFORE THE END
OF THE PROBATIONARY TERM, SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FROM AN ELIGIBLE LIST ON
WHICH SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT IS ALLOWED ADDITIONAL CREDIT, AND SUCH
APPOINTMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL CREDIT IN
OTHER EXAMINATIONS.
4. WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION; ELECTION TO RELINQUISH ADDITIONAL CRED-
IT. AN APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL CREDIT IN A COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION
A. 4440 6
UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT AT ANY TIME PRIOR
TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESULTING ELIGIBLE LIST. AT ANY TIME DURING
THE TERM OF EXISTENCE OF AN ELIGIBLE LIST RESULTING FROM A COMPETITIVE
EXAMINATION IN WHICH A SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT HAS RECEIVED THE ADDITIONAL
CREDIT GRANTED BY THIS SECTION, SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT MAY ELECT,
PRIOR TO PERMANENT ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT, TO RELINQUISH THE ADDITIONAL
CREDIT THERETOFORE GRANTED TO THEM AND ACCEPT THE LOWER POSITION ON SUCH
ELIGIBLE LIST TO WHICH SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE
BEEN ENTITLED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH ELECTION SHALL THEREAFTER BE
IRREVOCABLE. SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY THE
SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT, AND TRANSMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OR THE APPROPRI-
ATE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
5. ROSTER. THE DEPARTMENT AND EACH MUNICIPAL COMMISSION SHALL ESTAB-
LISH AND MAINTAIN IN ITS OFFICE A ROSTER OF ALL SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIM-
ANTS APPOINTED AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL CREDITS GRANTED BY THIS SECTION
TO POSITIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION. THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUCCESSFUL
CLAIMANT AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL CREDITS SHALL BE VOID IF SUCH
SUCCESSFUL CLAIMANT, PRIOR TO SUCH APPOINTMENT, HAD BEEN APPOINTED AS A
RESULT OF ADDITIONAL CREDITS GRANTED BY THIS SECTION.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to claims
filed on and after such date.