The bill establishes a new chapter, CHAPTER 10.1, titled "COMMISSION ON PARDONS," within Title 13 of the General Laws concerning Criminal Correctional Institutions. This chapter creates a commission on pardons responsible for administering the application process for individuals seeking executive pardons in accordance with Article IX, Section 13 of the Rhode Island Constitution.

The commission will evaluate applicants based on specific criteria, which include: (1) completion of their sentence and ineligibility for expungement under chapter 1.3 of title 12; (2) eligibility for expungement, having applied for expungement, and being denied; or (3) being on probation and eligible for early termination of probation under Rule 35(c) of the Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure.

The commission is tasked with developing rules and regulations for the application process, including required documentation, response timelines, and eligibility criteria for recommendations.

The commission will consist of nine members appointed for two-year terms from various sectors, including: (1) an appointee from the judicial branch appointed by the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court; (2) an appointee from the Department of the Attorney General appointed by the Attorney General; (3) an appointee from the Office of the Public Defender appointed by the Chief Public Defender; (4) an appointee from the Rhode Island Office of Parole/Probation appointed by the Governor; (5) an appointee from the Nonviolence Institute appointed by the director of the institute; (6) an appointee from the Economic Progress Institute appointed by the director of the institute; (7) an appointee from the Reentry Campus Program appointed by the director of the program; (8) an appointee from OpenDoors appointed by the director of the program; and (9) an appointee from the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights appointed by the director of the center.

The commission will submit the names of individuals recommended for pardons to the governor, who will have the authority to present these names to the state senate for advice and consent. This act will take effect upon passage.