(a) A person who, while protesting or challenging within the state a state law or municipal ordinance the purpose of which was to maintain racial segregation or racial discrimination of individuals, was convicted for the protest or challenge, upon application to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, or if the conviction was for violation of a municipal ordinance, to the municipal parole board, or if no municipal parole board, to the mayor of the municipality, shall be granted a pardon of the conviction. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles or the municipal parole board or, if no municipal parole board, the mayor shall provide notice of the application to the district attorney of the county or the appropriate municipal official where the violation occurred within 60 days after its submission. The pardon shall be granted within 42 days after the submission of the application unless it is objected to by the state on the grounds that the conviction did not result from a violation of a law the purpose of which was to maintain racial segregation or racial discrimination of individuals. In lieu of the above, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles or municipal parole board may grant a pardon to a person who files a sworn affidavit stating that he or she while protesting or challenging a state law or municipal ordinance the purpose of which was to maintain racial segregation or racial discrimination of individuals was convicted for the protest or the challenge. If the information in the affidavit is later found to be false, then the pardon shall be void. If the state or municipality objects, a hearing shall be scheduled as soon as practical with notice of the hearing to all interested parties.

(b) If the convicted person is deceased, the application may be filed by a person who can show legal authority to act on behalf of the deceased person.