Kentucky lawmakers reject House Bill 206

FRANKFORT, Ky. – For the fourth consecutive year, Kentucky lawmakers have rejected a bill that would provide financial compensation to individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.

House Bill 206, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes of Louisville, aimed to compensate exonerees for their time spent incarcerated and on parole, according to the Kentucky General Assembly website.

The bill would have also covered tuition for Kentucky colleges, health insurance and attorney fees.

Despite gaining more traction than in previous years, it ultimately failed to advance during this legislative session.

Advocates and exonerees said the bill’s failure is yet another setback for those working to rebuild their lives after wrongful convictions.