The move to rein in the governor's authority comes in response to pardons issued not by current Gov. Andy Beshear but by his Republican predecessor.
Sponsor, Sen. Chris McDaniel, tried to get the changes on the ballot in 2020 but the bill stalled. McDaniel said he decided to revisit the idea after reading about the case of Gregory Wilson — who was convicted of rape and murder in 1988 but granted the ability to file for parole despite originally facing a death sentence.
McDaniel said Bevin's commutation made that possible.
"He had allowed folks out who, frankly, had no business walking the streets ever again," the lawmaker told WUKY. "As I testified in committee, a man who was condemned to die made an appearance in front of a parole board two weeks ago. That simply is unacceptable and if a governor wanted to make a decision like that, they should have to stand in front of the voters and answer for that decision."
Pushing back the date at which Kentucky governors could issue pardons would give voters the chance to factor that into their choice at the ballot box, according to the logic of the bill.
McDaniel's constitutional amendment cleared a Senate committee Wednesday to move to the full Senate.
