AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- COMMISSION ON PARDONS (Establishes a commission to promulgate rules, regulations and make recommendations to the governor as to petitions for pardons under Article IX, Section 13 of the Constitution of Rhode Island.)

H8074

2026 -- H 8074
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- COMMISSION ON
PARDONS

Introduced By:
Representatives Morales, Kislak, Sanchez, Giraldo, Cruz, Stewart, Potter,
Tanzi, and Cotter

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 13 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINALS — CORRECTIONAL
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INSTITUTIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 10.1
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COMMISSION ON PARDONS
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13-10.1-1. Commission on pardons established – Duties.

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(a) There is hereby established a commission on pardons to administer the application
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process, consider applicants, and ultimately make recommendations to the governor regarding
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applicants seeking an executive pardon pursuant to Article IX, Section 13 of the Constitution of
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Rhode Island.
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(b) A person shall only be considered for a pardon if:
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(1) A person has completed their sentence and is ineligible for an expungement pursuant
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to the provisions of chapter 1.3 of title 12 ("expungement of criminal records");
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(2) A person is eligible for expungement, has applied for expungement, and has been
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denied; or
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(3) A person is on probation and is eligible for early termination of probation pursuant to
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Rule 35(c) of the Rhode Island superior court rules of criminal procedure.
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(c) The commission shall be responsible for promulgating rules and regulations necessary
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for developing an application process for applicants seeking to request a pardon including, but not

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limited to:
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(1) Establishing what documents and forms need to be submitted with an application in
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order to be considered for a pardon;
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(2) Establishing a timeline for an applicant to receive a response; and
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(3) Establishing criteria for determining a person’s eligibility for recommendation of a
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pardon by the commission.
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(d) The commission shall submit to the governor the names of those individuals whom the
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commission determines should be considered for a pardon, and the governor shall have the
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authority to submit any of those recommended names, or any others, to the state senate for advice
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and consent.
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13-10.1-2. Composition of commission.

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(a) The commission on pardons shall consist of nine (9) members that shall be appointed
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for a two (2) year term. Members of the commission shall be as follows:
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(1) An appointee from the judicial branch who shall be appointed the by chief justice of
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the Rhode Island supreme court;
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(2) An appointee from the department of the attorney general who shall be appointed by
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the attorney general;
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(3) An appointee from the office of the public defender who shall be appointed by the chief
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public defender;
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(4) An appointee from the Rhode Island office of parole/probation who shall be appointed
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by the governor;
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(5) An appointee from the nonviolence institute who shall be appointed by the director of
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the institute. The appointee shall be an active member of the institute;
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(6) An appointee from the Economic Progress Institute who shall be appointed by the
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director of the institute. The appointee shall be an active member of the institute;
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(7) An appointee from the reentry campus program who shall be appointed by the director
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of the program. The appointee shall be an active member of the program;
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(8) An appointee from OpenDoors who shall be appointed by the director of the program.
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The appointee shall be an active member of the program;
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(9) An appointee from the center for indigenous people’s rights who shall be appointed by
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the director of the center. The appointee shall be an active member of the center.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- COMMISSION ON
PARDONS
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This act would establish a commission to promulgate rules, regulations and make
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recommendations to the governor as to petitions for pardons under Article IX, Section 13 of the
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Constitution of Rhode Island.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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