PR26-0190 • 2025

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Pinto
Last action: 2025-05-16
Official status: Approved
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the exact nature of the 'gap' that this resolution aims to prevent, beyond stating it exists due to congressional review delays.

Emergency Clemency Board Waiver

This resolution allows the Clemency Board to continue granting waivers for the five-year waiting period for pardon applications during congressional review until a temporary measure can take effect.

What This Bill Does

Declares an emergency situation due to congressional review of a temporary amendment act.
Extends the authority given by the previous emergency measure until the temporary measure becomes effective after congressional review.

Who It Names or Affects

The Clemency Board
Individuals seeking pardons who qualify for a waiver of the five-year waiting period

Terms To Know

Clemency Board: A board responsible for reviewing and granting pardon applications.
Congressional Review: The process by which Congress examines and potentially approves or rejects legislation passed by the District of Columbia.

Limits and Unknowns

This resolution only applies during a specific period until the temporary measure can take effect.
It does not change the overall rules for pardons beyond this emergency situation.

Bill History

2025-05-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Resolution R26-0100, Effective from May 06, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 005855
2025-05-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council
2025-05-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-05-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Approved with Resolution Number R26-0100
2025-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
PR26-0190 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

A RESOLUTION

26-100

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

May 6, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need
to amend section 205 of the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 to authorize the
Clemency Board to, for applicants seeking a pardon, grant a waiver of the 5-year waiting
period.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) On March 4, 2025, the Council approved the Clemency Board Waiver
Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, effective March 20, 2025 (D.C. Act 26-27; 72
DCR 3320) (“emergency measure”). The emergency measure is set to expire on June 18, 2025.
(b) The Clemency Board Waiver Authority Temporary Amendment Act of 2025, enacted
on April 22, 2025 (D.C. Act 25-45; 72 DCR 4888) (“temporary measure”), was approved by the
Council on final reading at the April 1, 2025, legislative meeting. Because the temporary
measure must undergo congressional review, it will not be in effect before the emergency
measure expires.
(c) This congressional review emergency is necessary to prevent a gap in the law between
the expiration of the emergency measure and effective date of the temporary measure.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the
Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025
be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.