LRB-0092/3
CMH:eev&ahe
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
February 11, 2016 - Introduced by Senators L. Taylor, Bewley,
Harris Dodd and
Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives
Young, Berceau, Bowen, Goyke,
Ohnstad, Sinicki, Zepnick and C. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
and Public Safety.
SB726,1,2
1An Act to create 304.09 (2) (am) and 304.105 of the statutes;
relating to:
2creation of an independent pardon council.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the governor considers all applications for pardon of any
person, and the Department of Corrections must, upon the governor's request, make
recommendations to the governor as to pardons. This bill creates a nine-member
independent pardon council, consisting of two appeals court judges from each of the
four districts appointed by the chief judge of the court of appeals and one circuit court
judge appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court. Under this bill, the
independent pardon council must consider each application for a pardon and make
recommendations to the legislature and to the governor.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB726,1
3Section
1. 304.09 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB726,1,44
304.09
(2) (am) The independent pardon council under s. 304.105.
SB726,2
5Section
2. 304.105 of the statutes is created to read:
SB726,2,5
6304.105 Independent pardon council.
(1) There is created a 9-member
7independent pardon council consisting of 2 court of appeals judges from each of the
1districts specified under ss. 752.13, 752.15, 752.17, and 752.19 appointed by the chief
2judge of the court of appeals and one circuit court judge appointed by the chief justice
3of the supreme court. At its first meeting in each odd-numbered year the council
4shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The council shall meet at least
5quarterly.
SB726,2,11
6(2) The independent pardon council shall consider each application for a
7pardon. Three-member panels of the council members shall, using procedures the
8council establishes, hear testimony and make a recommendation for or against
9pardon on each application. The recommendation of the panel is the
10recommendation of the council. The council shall report its recommendations to the
11legislature and to the governor.
SB726,2,15
12(3) Members of the independent pardon council may not be compensated for
13their services, but the members shall be reimbursed from the appropriation account
14under s. 20.525 (1) (a) for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
15performance of their duties.
SB726,2,16
16(4) Section 15.09 does not apply to the independent pardon council.
