Clemency Review Commission and Board of Pardons procedures expanded and refined, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.

This bill expands and refines the procedures for Minnesota's Clemency Review Commission and Board of Pardons to improve how clemency requests are evaluated. It establishes new panels of three members to prescreen applications, allowing these panels to recommend denial or refer cases for a full hearing without requiring the applicant to attend. The legislation also clarifies rules for victim participation, permitting them to speak in closed sessions or submit confidential statements under specific circumstances, while maintaining requirements for applicants to appear unless granted a waiver by the governor. Additionally, the bill sets a minimum frequency for board meetings and authorizes the creation of rules to streamline expedited processing for certain pardon applications.