Commission to Make Recommendations for Pardons (H 5379)

Rhode Island has a very restrictive pardoning process. Under Article IX, Section 13 of the state Constitution, the Governor can exercise pardoning power only with the advice and consent of the Senate. In modern history, the only person we are aware of who has been pardoned by the Governor is someone who had died over 160 years earlier. For these reasons, we strongly supported this legislation which would create a commission to recommend the names of people to be considered for executive pardons by the Governor. This legislation died in committee.