Committee considers changes to Clemency Review Commission to reduce backlog; proposal for three‑member prescreening panel draws debate
Senate File 46‑16 would add funding and procedural changes aimed at clearing a growing clemency backlog; the committee adopted a funding amendment, heard detailed testimony from the CRC executive director and debated—but ultimately rejected—a motion to strip expedited prescreening language.
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Senator Pappas brought Senate File 46‑16 to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on March 27 with an A3 amendment intended to address the Clemency Review Commission’s growing backlog and resource needs. "The creation of the Clemency Review Commission has improved our clemency system," said Carly Stark, the commission’s executive director. Stark told the committee the CRC has six full‑time staff and received 401 applications in its first full year (a 152% increase from 2023); with current resources the CRC could provide recommendations for 164 applications and projects a backlog exceeding 1,500 applications by 2032 without policy or resource changes.
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