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SF 4616

Clemency Review Commission appropriation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doron Clark and 3 co-sponsors

The bill provides state funding to establish and sustain the Clemency Review Commission’s operations, enabling timely review of clemency petitions and advisory support to the Gover

Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
#appropriations #legalproceedings
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SF 4616

Summary: SF 4616 (Minnesota) — Clemency Review Commission Appropriation

Bill at a Glance

  • Jurisdiction: Minnesota
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Title: Clemency Review Commission appropriation
  • Purpose: To appropriate funding for a Clemency Review Commission, enabling the agency to operate, conduct reviews, and carry out its duties related to clemency (including pardons, reprieves, or commutations) under Minnesota law.
  • Introduced / First Reading: March 18, 2026
  • Referral: Judiciary and Public Safety
  • Sponsors:
    • Co-sponsors: Sandy Pappas, Doron Clark, Foung Hawj, Clare Oumou Verbeten

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks state funding for a Clemency Review Commission. The commission is typically responsible for reviewing clemency petitions (e.g., pardons, commutations, or reprieves) and advising the Governor on clemency matters.
  • By appropriating funds, the bill aims to establish or sustain the commission’s ability to operate, hire staff, and administer the clemency review process in a timely and thorough manner.

2) Key Provisions (Assumptions Based on Title and Context)

Given the bill title and typical framework for clemency appropriations, key provisions likely include:
- ** appropriation of state funds** to support the Clemency Review Commission’s operations. This could cover personnel, administrative support, data systems, legal research, and related operational costs.
- Compliance and reporting requirements specifying that the commission must report on case processing times, disposition outcomes, and budget utilization to the Legislature or a relevant committee.
- Definitions and scope clarifying the commission’s jurisdiction, the types of clemency applications it reviews (e.g., pardons, commutations, reprieves), and any eligibility criteria for petitions under Minnesota law.
- Operational mandates such as meeting schedules, review procedures, standards for evaluating petitions, and timelines for decisions or recommendations to the Governor.
- Oversight and accountability provisions detailing auditing, public access to non-confidential information, and protection of petitioners’ rights and privacy.

Note: The exact text of provisions is not provided here; the above reflects typical content in appropriation bills for a clemency commission.

3) Impact and Affected Parties

  • Primary Beneficiaries:
    • The Clemency Review Commission (staffed by state employees or contractors) gains funding to perform its statutory duties.
    • Individuals seeking clemency (pardons, commutations, reprieves) may experience more timely and thorough review of their petitions.
    • The Governor, who makes final clemency determinations, benefits from a robust advisory and review process.
  • State Agencies Involved:
    • Judiciary and Public Safety committees and the executive branch components that interact with clemency petitions.
  • Public Access:
    • Depending on statutory provisions, there may be increased transparency regarding the clemency review process and decisions.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Introduced / First Reading: March 18, 2026.
  • Referral: Judiciary and Public Safety, indicating review by those committees for legal and safety implications.
  • Next Steps: The bill will undergo committee hearings, potential amendments, and votes in the House and Senate (as applicable in Minnesota’s bicameral process) before moving to the Governor for signature or veto.
  • Implementation Timeline: Typically, appropriation bills take effect at the start of the fiscal year or upon the specified effective date in the bill, with funding distributed to the commission accordingly. If not specified, the bill may include an effective date for the appropriation once enacted.

5) Notes for Readers

  • The summary focuses on the bill’s core aim: providing funding to operationalize the Clemency Review Commission. Exact dollar amounts, funding categories (personnel, operations, data systems), and detailed procedural requirements would be stated in the bill text and any accompanying fiscal notes.
  • For stakeholders (petitioners, advocates, and legal professionals), monitoring committee hearings and fiscal analyses will provide crucial details on budget levels, timelines, and reporting obligations.

If you’d like, I can integrate the actual fiscal figures and statutory references once the bill’s full text is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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