House Bill No. [insert number] proposes the establishment of a Sentencing Review Panel for Non-unanimous Jury Convictions within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. This panel will consist of various legal professionals appointed by the governor, the attorney general, and the state public defender, and will be responsible for reviewing cases where non-unanimous jury verdicts were rendered prior to 2018. The panel's duties include determining if such convictions resulted in a miscarriage of justice, assessing eligibility for pardon or commutation of sentences, and notifying relevant authorities about the findings. The bill also stipulates that the review panel must complete its evaluations within one year of the statute's effective date.

Additionally, the bill expands the eligibility criteria for applying for pardons or commutations to include individuals convicted by non-unanimous jury verdicts that resulted in miscarriages of justice. It also allows those whose convictions did not result in a miscarriage of justice to request a review based on new evidence. The proposed law emphasizes the importance of thorough case reviews and sets forth guidelines for the panel's operations, including the requirement for a majority vote to affirm a miscarriage of justice. The provisions of this act will terminate one year after its effective date, ensuring a timely review process for affected individuals.