Clemency Board Waiver Authority Second Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Brooke Pinto

Empowers the DC Clemency Board to waive the 5-year waiting period for pardons during the transitional gap between emergency and temporary acts.

Retained by the Council

Summary of Bill: Clemency Board Waiver Authority Second Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026 (PR 26-0732)

Purpose and intent

Declares an emergency for purposes of congressional review to amend the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018.

The aim is to authorize the DC Clemency Board to grant a waiver of the 5-year waiting period for applicants seeking a pardon, addressing a gap in the law during transition between emergency and temporary amendments.

Key provisions and changes

Creates an emergency declaration to allow a second congressional review emergency amendment (2026) related to Clemency Board waiver authority.

Background timeline:

An emergency amendment act (effective February 27, 2026) was enacted but expires April 27, 2026.
A separate temporary amendment act was enacted (with a projected law date of June 5, 2026).

This resolution provides a mechanism to bridge the gap between the expiration of the emergency act and the effective date of the temporary act, ensuring continued authority for the Clemency Board to waive the 5-year waiting period for pardons.

The emergency waiver authority is specifically tied to applications for pardons, enabling the Clemency Board to grant waivers of the waiting period when appropriate.

Who/what is affected

The DC Clemency Board: gains/maintains authority to waive the 5-year waiting period for pardon applicants during the transitional period.

Pardon applicants in the District of Columbia: could benefit from waivers of the waiting period, potentially expediting or enabling eligibility for pardons during the transition between emergency and temporary acts.

The legislative process: the bill is framed as a second congressional review emergency measure, triggering expedited consideration (single reading) due to the emergency nature.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The resolution is titled to reflect a second congressional review emergency declaration.

It acknowledges prior actions:

Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (adopted Jan 6, 2026; effective Feb 27, 2026; expires Apr 27, 2026).
Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (adopted Feb 3, 2026; enacted Mar 2, 2026; projected law date Jun 5, 2026).

The resolution asserts necessity to prevent a legal gap in the Clemency Board’s waiver authority by enabling adoption after a single reading.

Effective date of this resolution: immediate.

Overall impact

Ensures continuity of waiver authority for pardon applicants by authorizing a second emergency amendment, thereby preventing gaps between emergency and temporary statutes.

Clarifies that the emergency declaration is to be used to maintain the ability of the Clemency Board to grant waivers to the waiting period during the transitional window.