TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A man who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit would be compensated $1.35 million under a bill that has passed in the Florida House.
The House passed the bill (SB 2) on Friday. It goes back to the Senate which earlier passed it because of some changes made by the House.
DNA testing cleared William Dillon of the Brevard County murder, but he didn’t qualify for automatic compensation due to a prior drug conviction.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a Merritt Island Republican, sponsored the bill and made it a top priority this year and last.
Time expired in the 2011 session before the House could vote on it, although it passed in the Senate.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.