Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms the law expires 225 days after taking effect, but does not explicitly state the exact calendar date of expiration in the summary section provided; however, metadata indicates an effective date of May 29, 2026.
Temporary Rule Change for Clemency Board Waivers
This law temporarily allows the D.C. Clemency Board to skip a five-year waiting period for pardon applicants if they have already received approval from federal officials.
What This Bill Does
- Adds a new rule allowing the Clemency Board to waive the standard five-year wait time before reviewing a pardon request upon written application.
- Requires that the Pardon Attorney or the President of the United States must first grant their own waiver for this applicant under federal rules.
- Stops the review process until the Board decides whether to approve or deny the special waiver request.
- Allows the Board to ask applicants for more information or meet with them before making a decision on the waiver.
- Requires the Board to send written notice to the applicant about their final decision on the waiver.
Who It Names or Affects
- People in Washington, D.C. who are applying for a pardon and want to skip the five-year waiting period.
- The District of Columbia Clemency Board members who must review these special requests.
- The Office of the Pardon Attorney within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Terms To Know
- Clemency Board
- A group in Washington, D.C., that reviews applications for pardons and commutations.
- Waiver
- An official permission to ignore a specific rule or requirement.
- Pardon Attorney
- A federal lawyer who reviews pardon requests for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Limits and Unknowns
- The Board cannot grant this waiver if the applicant is currently on probation, parole, or supervised release.
- This law only works for a short time and expires exactly 225 days after it takes effect in May 2026.
- Even with federal approval, the Clemency Board can still choose to deny the request.