Relating to the restoration of voting rights to certain convicted persons and including effective date provisions

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to the definition of a discharge of a criminal sentence for the purposes of the automatic restoration of a convicted person’s voting rights pursuant to a constitutional amendment originating in a resolution passed during the 88th general assembly relating to the restoration of the voting rights of felons upon the discharge of a criminal sentence. If the constitutional amendment contained in such a resolution is ratified by the electors pursuant to Article X, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, the bill becomes effective and defines the discharge of a criminal sentence as including all of the following: the completion of confinement, parole, and probation, and any special sentence imposed pursuant to Code chapter 903B (sex offender special sentencing and hormone treatment); the receipt of a pardon or a restoration of rights from the governor for an offense under Code chapter 707 (homicide and related crimes); and the payment of all pecuniary damages imposed pursuant to Code chapter 910 (restitution). The bill is repealed if a constitutional amendment relating to the restoration of the voting rights of felons upon the discharge of a criminal sentence is not ratified prior to January 1, 2023.