Legislation that could clear the felony records of some 95 thousand Kentuckians failed to pass out of committee yesterday. The measure would give individuals convicted of one felony the ability to seek expungement five years after serving their sentence, parole, or probation.
Louisville Representative Darryl Owens testified on behalf of the bill.
"And we say we want you to be part of this society, and we're gonna do everything we can to prevent you from re-integrating into society and you know I just think this is a bill that allows people redemption,” Owens said. “We talk about that. We talk about a second chance society."
Lexington Representative Robert Benvenuti voted no, saying the pardon process offers a more thorough review.
"It's less thoughtful, I would say, to do something in a blanket process, than to allow a thoughtful transparent process take place, where all the facts and circumstances, about somebody's past can be weighed, based on how they are as a person today," Benvenuti said.
Bill Committee Chair John Tilley said the measure could be reconsidered later in the short session. The same bill made it through the House during the last session.
