2023 California Code › Penal Code - PEN › PART 3 - OF IMPRISONMENT AND THE DEATH PENALTY › TITLE 6 - REPRIEVES, PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS › CHAPTER 5 - Indemnity for Persons Erroneously Convicted and Pardoned › Section 4902.

4902. (a) If the provisions of Section 851.865 or 1485.55 apply in any claim, the California Victim Compensation Board shall, within 90 days of the filing of the claim, calculate the compensation for the claimant pursuant to Section 4904 and approve payment to the claimant if sufficient funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature. As to any claim to which Section 851.865 or 1485.55 does not apply, the Attorney General shall respond to the claim within 60 days or request an extension of time, upon a showing of good cause.
(b) Upon receipt of a response from the Attorney General, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, and shall mail notice thereof to the claimant and to the Attorney General at least 15 days prior to the time fixed for the hearing. The board shall use reasonable diligence in setting the date for the hearing and shall attempt to set the date for the hearing at the earliest date convenient for the parties and the board.
(c) If the time period for response elapses without a request for extension or a response from the Attorney General pursuant to subdivision (a), the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, mail notice thereof to the claimant at least 15 days prior to the time fixed for the hearing, and make a decision based on the claimant’s verified claim and any evidence presented by the claimant.
(d) If subdivision (b) of Section 4900 applies in any claim, the California Victim Compensation Board shall calculate the compensation for the claimant pursuant to Section 4904 and approve payment to the claimant if sufficient funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, unless the Attorney General objects in writing, within 45 days from when the claimant files the claim, with clear and convincing evidence that the claimant is not entitled to compensation. The Attorney General may request a single 45-day extension of time, upon a showing of good cause. An extension of time beyond this period may be given if agreed upon by stipulation between both parties. Time needed to obtain and review juvenile records may establish good cause for additional 45-day extensions upon a showing that through the exercise of due diligence the Attorney General’s office is unable to obtain sufficient documents for the review. If the Attorney General declines to object within the allotted period of time, then the board shall approve payment pursuant to Section 4904 within 90 days thereafter. Upon receipt of the objection, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, and shall mail notice thereof to the claimant and to the Attorney General at least 15 days prior to the fixed time for the hearing. At a hearing, the Attorney General shall bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the claimant committed the acts constituting the offense. If the Attorney General fails to meet this burden, the board shall approve payment to the claimant, calculated pursuant to Section 4904, if sufficient funds are available upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 702, Sec. 4. (SB 78) Effective January 1, 2024.)