CS for SB 2                                     Second Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       20122e2
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act for the relief of William Dillon, who was
    3         wrongfully incarcerated for 27 years; providing an
    4         appropriation to compensate William Dillon for his
    5         wrongful incarceration; directing the Chief Financial
    6         Officer to draw a warrant for the purchase of an
    7         annuity; providing for a waiver of certain tuition and
    8         fees; providing conditions for payment; providing that
    9         the act does not waive certain defenses or increase
   10         the state’s liability; providing a limitation on the
   11         payment of fees and costs; providing that certain
   12         benefits are void upon any future finding that William
   13         Dillon is not innocent of the alleged crime; providing
   14         an effective date.
   15  
   16  
   17         WHEREAS, William Dillon was arrested on August 27, 1981,
   18  indicted by a grand jury on September 3, 1981, and convicted of
   19  first degree felony murder on December 4, 1981, and
   20         WHEREAS, William Dillon has maintained his innocence, and
   21         WHEREAS, on November 14, 2008, the Circuit Court in the
   22  Eighteenth Judicial Circuit granted a motion for postconviction
   23  relief and vacated the judgment and sentence of William Dillon
   24  as entered on March 12, 1982. The court additionally ordered a
   25  new trial, and
   26         WHEREAS, William Dillon was released pending a new trial on
   27  November 18, 2008, and
   28         WHEREAS, on December 10, 2008, the state filed a nolle
   29  prosequi as related to the retrial of William Dillon, and
   30         WHEREAS, on November 3, 2009, the Sheriff of Brevard County
   31  directed that the 1981 homicide investigation of James Dvorak be
   32  reopened and actively investigated in a comprehensive manner,
   33  and
   34         WHEREAS, the reopened but continuing investigation by the
   35  Sheriff of Brevard County has determined with certainty that
   36  William Dillon did not participate in the death of James Dvorak,
   37  and
   38         WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that the state’s
   39  system of justice yielded an imperfect result that had tragic
   40  consequences in this case, and
   41         WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that, as a result of
   42  his physical confinement, William Dillon suffered significant
   43  damages that are unique to William Dillon and all of those
   44  damages are due to the fact that he was physically restrained
   45  and prevented from exercising the freedom to which all innocent
   46  citizens are entitled, and
   47         WHEREAS, before his conviction for the above-mentioned
   48  crime, William Dillon pled guilty to an unrelated felony, and
   49         WHEREAS, because of his prior felony conviction, William
   50  Dillon is ineligible for compensation under chapter 961, Florida
   51  Statutes, and
   52         WHEREAS, the Legislature is providing compensation to
   53  William Dillon to acknowledge the fact that he suffered
   54  significant damages that are unique to William Dillon, and
   55         WHEREAS, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office comprehensive
   56  reinvestigation of the matter has determined verifiable and
   57  substantial evidence of William Dillon’s actual innocence of
   58  first degree felony murder, and
   59         WHEREAS, the compensation provided by this act is the sole
   60  compensation from the state for any and all present and future
   61  claims arising in connection with William Dillon’s arrest,
   62  conviction, and incarceration, and
   63         WHEREAS, William Dillon may not seek any future
   64  compensation against the state or any agency, instrumentality,
   65  or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity subject to
   66  the provisions of s. 768.28, in state or federal court
   67  requesting compensation arising out of the facts in connection
   68  with his arrest, conviction, and incarceration, and
   69         WHEREAS, the Legislature apologizes to William Dillon on
   70  behalf of the state, NOW, THEREFORE,
   71  
   72  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   73  
   74         Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
   75  found and declared to be true.
   76         Section 2. The sum of $1,350,000 is appropriated from the
   77  General Revenue Fund to the Department of Financial Services
   78  under the conditions provided in this act.
   79         Section 3. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw
   80  a warrant in the total sum specified in section 2 for the
   81  purposes provided in this act.
   82         Section 4. The Department of Financial Services shall pay
   83  the funds appropriated under this act to an insurance company or
   84  other financial institution admitted and authorized to issue
   85  annuity contracts in this state and selected by William Dillon
   86  to purchase an annuity. The Department of Financial Services
   87  shall execute all necessary agreements to implement this act.
   88         Section 5. Tuition and fees for William Dillon shall be
   89  waived for up to a total of 120 hours of instruction at any
   90  career center established pursuant to s. 1001.44, Florida
   91  Statutes, community college established under part III of
   92  chapter 1004, Florida Statutes, or state university. For any
   93  educational benefit made, William Dillon must meet and maintain
   94  the regular admission requirements of, and be registered at,
   95  such career center, community college, or state university and
   96  make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the
   97  educational institution in which he is enrolled.
   98         Section 6. The Chief Financial Officer shall purchase the
   99  annuity required by this act upon delivery by William Dillon to
  100  the Chief Financial Officer, the Department of Financial
  101  Services, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
  102  House of Representatives of a release executed by William Dillon
  103  for himself and on behalf of his heirs, successors, and assigns,
  104  fully and forever releasing and discharging the State of
  105  Florida, and its agencies and subdivisions, as defined by s.
  106  768.28(2), Florida Statutes, from any and all present or future
  107  claims or declaratory relief that William Dillon or any of his
  108  heirs, successors, or assigns may have against the State of
  109  Florida, and its agencies and subdivisions, as defined by s.
  110  768.28(2), Florida Statutes, and arising out of the factual
  111  situation in connection with the arrest, conviction, and
  112  incarceration for which compensation is awarded; and, without
  113  limitation of the foregoing, the release shall specifically
  114  release and discharge the Sheriff of Brevard County, Florida, in
  115  his official capacity, and any current or former sheriffs,
  116  deputies, agents, or employees of the Sheriff of Brevard County,
  117  in their individual capacities, from all claims, causes of
  118  action, demands, rights, and claims for attorney fees or costs,
  119  of whatever kind or nature, whether in law or equity, including,
  120  but not limited to, any claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 1983,
  121  which William Dillon had, has, or might hereinafter have or
  122  claim to have, whether known or not, against the Sheriff of
  123  Brevard County, Florida, and his assigns, successors in
  124  interest, predecessors in interest, heirs, employees, agents,
  125  servants, officers, directors, deputies, insurers, reinsurers,
  126  and excess insurers, in their official and individual
  127  capacities, and that arise out of, are associated with, or are a
  128  cause of, the arrest, conviction, and incarceration for which
  129  compensation is awarded, including any known or unknown loss,
  130  injury, or damage related to or caused by same and which may
  131  arise in the future. However, this act does not prohibit
  132  declaratory action to obtain judicial expungement of William
  133  Dillon’s record as related to the arrest and conviction of first
  134  degree felony murder within a judicial or executive branch
  135  agency as otherwise provided by law.
  136         Section 7. The Legislature by this act does not waive any
  137  defense of sovereign immunity or increase the limits of
  138  liability on behalf of the state or any person or entity that is
  139  subject to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, or any other law.
  140         Section 8. This award is intended to provide the sole
  141  compensation for any and all present and future claims arising
  142  out of the factual situation in connection with William Dillon’s
  143  arrest, conviction, and incarceration. There shall be no further
  144  award to include attorney fees, lobbying fees, costs, or other
  145  similar expenses to William Dillon by the state or any agency,
  146  instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof, or any other
  147  entity, including any county constitutional office, officer, or
  148  employee, in state or federal court.
  149         Section 9. If a future factual finding determines that
  150  William Dillon, by DNA evidence or otherwise, participated in
  151  any manner as related to the death or robbery of James Dvorak,
  152  the unused benefits to which William Dillon is entitled under
  153  this act are void.
  154         Section 10. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.