Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1968 – Legislative History
Pardoning Power; Board of Pardons
(a) In all criminal cases except impeachment the Governor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, to grant reprieves, commutation of sentences and pardons; but no pardon shall be granted, nor sentence commuted, except on the recommendation in writing of a majority of the Board of Pardons, and, in the case of a sentence of death or life imprisonment, on the unanimous recommendation in writing of the Board of Pardons, after full hearing in open session, upon due public notice. The recommendation, with the reasons therefor at length, shall be delivered to the Governor and a copy thereof shall be kept on file in the office of the Lieutenant Governor in a docket kept for that purpose.
(b) The Board of Pardons shall consist of the Lieutenant Governor who shall be chairman, the Attorney General and three members appointed by the Governor with the consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate for terms of six years. The three members appointed by the Governor shall be residents of Pennsylvania. One shall be a crime victim, one a corrections expert and the third a doctor of medicine, psychiatrist or psychologist. The board shall keep records of its actions, which shall at all times be open for public inspection. [Source: 1997 Pa. Laws 634]
Bill Histories
| 1995 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 2 |
SB 4 By Senators FISHER, GREENLEAF, SHAFFER, BRIGHTBILL, MELLOW,
ANDREZESKI, WAGNER, WENGER, CORMAN, TILGHMAN, PETERSON, BODACK,
STEWART, STOUT, HOLL, ROBBINS, PUNT, RHOADES, ARMSTRONG, BELAN,
PORTERFIELD, BELL, HART, SHUMAKER, HELFRICK, MADIGAN, MOWERY, MUSTO,
LAVALLE, ULIANA, TOMLINSON, GERLACH, DELP, SCHWARTZ, KASUNIC and
AFFLERBACH.
Prior Printer’s Nos. 4, 68. Printer’s No. 112.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the composition and
powers of the Board of Pardons.
Referred to JUDICIARY, Jan. 24, 1995
Reported as committed, Feb. 7, 1995
First consideration, Feb. 7, 1995
Second consideration, Feb. 8, 1995
Amended on third consideration, Feb. 13, 1995
Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 13, 1995 (44-5)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 46), Feb. 13, 1995
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 14, 1995
Reported as committed, March 14, 1995
First consideration, March 14, 1995
Laid on the table, March 14, 1995
Removed from table, March 14, 1995
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 14, 1995
Re-reported as committed, March 16, 1995
Second consideration, March 16, 1995
Third consideration, with amendments, April 18, 1995
Final passage, April 18, 1995 (177-23)
(Remarks see House Journal Page 235), April 18, 1995
In the Senate
Referred to RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, April 19, 1995
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed, April 24, 1995
Senate concurred in House amendments, April 25, 1995 (45-5)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 137), April 25, 1995
Signed in Senate, April 25, 1995
Signed in House, April 26, 1995
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
April 26, 1995
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2
Passed Session of 1995
| 1997 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 2 |
SB 156 By Senators PICCOLA, SALVATORE, TOMLINSON, MOWERY, DELP, COSTA,
HELFRICK, WENGER, WOZNIAK, STOUT, ROBBINS, MELLOW, ULIANA, BRIGHTBILL,
MADIGAN, THOMPSON, PUNT, RHOADES, GERLACH, HART, HOLL, MUSTO, KASUNIC,
ARMSTRONG, SLOCUM, LEMMOND and WAGNER.
Printer’s No. 224.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the composition and
powers of the Board of Pardons.
Referred to JUDICIARY, Jan. 28, 1997
Reported as committed, Jan. 28, 1997
First consideration, Jan. 28, 1997
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, Jan. 29, 1997
Re-reported as committed, Feb. 3, 1997
Second consideration, Feb. 4, 1997
Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 5, 1997 (42-6)
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 10, 1997
Reported as committed, March 11, 1997
First consideration, March 11, 1997
Laid on the table, March 11, 1997
Removed from table, March 11, 1997
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 11, 1997
Re-reported as committed, April 7, 1997
Second consideration, April 7, 1997
Third consideration and final passage, April 8, 1997 (180-18)
(Remarks see House Journal Page 710), April 8, 1997
Signed in Senate, April 8, 1997
Signed in House, April 9, 1997
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, April 9, 1997
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2
Passed Session of 1995 (Special Session No. 1)
and Session of 1997
Approved by the Electorate, Nov. 4, 1997 (1,182,067 – 811,701)