The governor and high officials (attorney general, chief justice) act as a pardon board, whose powers and duties are defined and regulated by statute. The pardon board is required to report to the legislature annually.  Per a 2023 reform, the board’s decisions need no longer be unanimous, but the governor must always been in the majority. The board will now be advised by a 9-person Clemency Review Commission, appointed in equal numbers by the three board mebers, which investigates applications and meets to consider recommendations to the board. Eligibility for a pardon requires five crime-free years from final discharge, and waivers of the eligibility waiting period may be granted.  A pardon restores all rights and effectively “nullifies” a conviction by setting it aside, and automatically expunges the record.  Process includes public hearing before the Commission that advbises the Board, with notice to officials and victims, with the possibility of an expedited review process. In the past, the pardon process has yielded few grants and applications have not been encouraged, and it remains to be seen whether the new process will yield more grants.