Bill > PR26-0033

This resolution declares an emergency to address a limitation in the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 regarding clemency application waiting periods. Specifically, the resolution highlights that while the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney (DOJ-OPA) can grant waivers to the standard 5-year waiting period for clemency applications, the District of Columbia's Clemency Board currently lacks similar authority. The emergency legislation aims to allow the Clemency Board to consider applications from individuals who have already received a waiver from DOJ-OPA, preventing potentially meritorious clemency applications from being automatically rejected due to a technical procedural restriction. The resolution emphasizes that without this amendment, several pending applications that could be considered by the President might be deemed ineligible, potentially disadvantaging applicants seeking clemency for District of Columbia Code offenses. By declaring an emergency and proposing to amend the existing law, the resolution seeks to align the District's clemency process more closely with federal practices and ensure fair consideration of waiver requests.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/PR26-0033