Civil rights; automatically restored to certain persons for eligibilty to register to vote. (HB16)

Introduced By

Del. Greg Habeeb (R-Salem)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Restoration of civil rights.  Provides for the automatic restoration of civil rights to persons convicted of nonviolent felonies (excepting felony drug and election fraud crimes) upon completion of sentence, including any term of probation or parole, and the payment of all restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed as a result of the felony conviction. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/02/2011Committee
12/02/2011Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12 12100517D
12/02/2011Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
01/18/2012Assigned MPPS sub: #2
01/19/2012Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (2-Y 3-N)
02/14/2012Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety

Comments

Julie Blust writes:

Virginia Organizing strongly supports the restoration of rights for former felons who have paid their debt to society.

Rickey Moore writes:

This is a great bill if it wasn't for the "certain persons" part. Once you've done your time, that's it. You have served your sentence and when it's over, it's over. So, as it is proposed, it still has the odor of "Jim Crow".

Laura Dely writes:

It's a shame that this bill was killed in sub-committee. Richmond remains one of two states that retain life-long denial of rights to those convicted of a felony.
And I support granting full rights upon release, no matter what your crime. If you do the time, you should not have to bear additional punishment in the form of disenfranchisement.

Rickey Moore writes:

If the subcomitte would amend the bill to include ~all~ those released from custody, it would be a great leap for Virginia to join the rest of the states with regards to ex-prisoner reforms. Until then, we're still provencial hard-heads. I think that after Richmond was the capitol of the Confederacy, we've held this grudge for losing the honor and just have to do the things the other states don't.