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House committee recommends cleanup to restoration‑of‑rights law to clarify eligibility and federal notification
Summary
The Committee of the Whole recommended passage of Senate File 9, a cleanup bill that refines prior restoration‑of‑rights language for nonviolent felons, clarifies eligibility criteria and requires notification to federal agencies when a certificate of restoration is issued or voided.
The House Committee of the Whole recommended passage of Senate File 9, a bill that makes technical and clarifying changes to statutes reinstating civil rights for persons convicted of certain nonviolent felonies.
Representative Singh, who explained the measure on the floor, said the bill refines prior legislation restoring rights to vote, serve on juries and possess firearms in certain cases. The bill clarifies eligibility criteria for certificates of restoration, reconciles state and out‑of‑state convictions, and requires that certificates be filed with the secretary of state and that the Division of Criminal Investigation be notified if a recipient is later convicted of a new felony. If a new felony occurs after issuance of a certificate, the certificate becomes void automatically and restored rights are again rescinded.
The bill also corrects agency references — for example, notifying the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — and removes the narrower reference to voting to make the statute address restoration of multiple rights. Sponsors said the changes arose from implementation issues following earlier enactments and are intended to close procedural gaps.
Ending: The Committee of the Whole recommended passage; sponsors characterized the bill as cleanup to resolve practical problems identified since enactment of the original restoration law.
