The proposed bill, known as the Safety Cluster Resource Alignment and Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, seeks to amend the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 and the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022. Specifically, it allows the Clemency Board to grant a waiver of the 5-year waiting period for applicants seeking a pardon under certain conditions. The new provisions stipulate that the Board can grant this waiver only if it receives notice from the Office of the Pardon Attorney that a waiver has been provided by the Pardon Attorney or the President of the United States. Additionally, the Board retains the discretion to decline the waiver request and must provide written notice of its decision to the applicant. The bill also clarifies that the waiver cannot be granted if the applicant is currently on probation, parole, or supervised release.
Furthermore, the bill updates the applicability date of the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 from March 1, 2025, to October 1, 2027. This change aims to align the timelines for implementing the provisions of the Second Chance Amendment Act with the new clemency waiver process. The bill is set to take effect following approval by the Mayor and will remain in effect for a maximum of 90 days as an emergency act.