Measure would allow the restoration of civil rights through the judicial process.

Felons who have served their time and paid their debt to society could petition a judge to restore their civil rights under a bill backed by a bipartisan coalition of Jacksonville area lawmakers.

Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Jacksonville Beach, says his bill (HB 903) would offer desperately needed opportunity in one of the only states where a felony conviction comes with an essential lifetime ban on voting, holding office, or qualifying for an occupational license.

Byrd rolled out the "Economic Redemption and Restoration of Constitutional Rights Act," at a December 6 Capitol press conference, where he was flanked by Jacksonville area supporters, prison ministers, and the bill's other sponsor, Rep. Kim Daniels, D-Jacksonville.

"We as a state, as a people, believe in redemption," Byrd said. "And when someone has paid their debt to society, when someone has completed their prison term and their court-imposed sentence, they should have the opportunity to be welcomed back and be full members of the community."

Byrd believes fervently in second chances, but he draws the line at automatic restoration of civil rights, even for non-violent felons. He opposes an ACLU-backed citizen's initiative that would do just that--one that appears destined for the November ballot.

A similar proposal is being debated by the Constitution Revision Commission.

As it stands now, Florida's Constitution gives the governor and elected cabinet, sitting as a "Board of Clemency," the power to restore an ex-felon's civil rights on a case-by-case basis. But the current backlog exceeds 20,000 cases and most applicants are forced to wait up to seven years just to apply.

Byrd said he's talked to some military veterans who ran afoul of the law and who have given up hope of getting their civil rights restored.

"I've had them tell me, 'I'll die before I have that...