The proposed resolution, introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto, seeks to declare an emergency regarding the need to amend the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018. The amendment would grant the Clemency Board the authority to waive the existing 5-year waiting period for applicants seeking a pardon, aligning its powers with those of the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney (DOJ-OPA), which already has the ability to grant such waivers. Currently, the Board cannot consider applications from individuals who have received a waiver from the DOJ-OPA, resulting in potential ineligibility for clemency recommendations despite the DOJ-OPA's active consideration of these cases.

The resolution emphasizes the urgency of this amendment, as it would allow the Board to process applications that could otherwise be deemed ineligible, thereby impacting applicants' chances for clemency. The Council recognizes the circumstances as an emergency, necessitating immediate action to amend the Act after a single reading. If adopted, the resolution would take effect immediately, ensuring that the Clemency Board can effectively consider all relevant applications in a timely manner.