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2017 SESSION
SJ 223 Constitutional amendment; qualification of voters and executive clemency (first reference).
Introduced by: Thomas K. Norment, Jr. | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles | history
SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualification of voters and executive clemency. Amends the authority of the Governor to remove the political disabilities of persons convicted of felonies, thus restoring their civil rights. The resolution requires the Governor to automatically remove the political disabilities of a person convicted of a felony, other than a violent felony, who has completed service of his sentence and any modification of that sentence, and has met any other conditions that may be set by the General Assembly. The Governor retains the discretion to remove the political disabilities of persons convicted of violent felonies. A person convicted of a violent felony shall become eligible for the removal of his political disabilities once he has completed (i) the payment in full of any restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed against him as a result of his conviction and (ii) service of his sentence and any modification of that sentence, including any period or condition of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, and at least five years have passed since he completed such payment and service of sentence without any new felony convictions or any misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude.
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualification of voters and executive clemency. Provides that the civil rights of a person convicted of any nonviolent felony, as defined by the General Assembly, shall be restored upon his completion of service of his sentence and any modification of that sentence, including any period or condition of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, and his payment in full of any restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed against him as a result of the conviction. The amendment also eliminates the power of the Governor to remove political disabilities.