OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Compensation will increase for those wrongfully convicted in Oklahoma now that the Governor has signed House Bill 2235 into law.
The compensation for those wrongfully convicted in the state is currently capped at $175,000, regardless of how many years a person was wrongfully incarcerated.
However, that will soon change under this new law.
"It increases that cap to $50,000 for every year that a person is wrongfully incarcerated. If that individual served on death row there's a supplemental of $25,000," House Minority Leader and author of the bill Cyndi Munson (D-OKC) said.
Munson started working on the legislation in 2021 after a constituent came to Munson with her father's story who had been wrongfully incarcerated.
She has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the legislation.
"Oklahoma just wasn't doing right by its people and I feel like if someone is found innocent, they're exonerated, they should have an opportunity to go back into their communities. We've taken their life away, opportunities to work, be with their families and the state needed to fix that," Munson told FOX 25.
While Governor Stitt signed the bill into law over the weekend, he did line item veto two portions of the bill to appropriate dollars for free health insurance and higher education in Oklahoma for those who are wrongfully convicted.
In his veto message Stitt said, " I believe the other provisions in House Bill 2235 are adequate, at this time, to compensate wrongfully convicted individuals; adding legislatively appropriated free health insurance and college is unnecessary."
Despite the line item vetoes, Munson is still calling House Bill 2235 a win.
"I did look at other states and what they do. Some states do provide additional benefits like that and so while I'm disappointed, I still think this is a huge win for Oklahoma and we can find ways to work together and clarify what that looks like," Munson said.
The law will go into effect July 1.