(a) Persons Eligible. The following persons shall apply directly to the Governor: persons residing outside California, persons discharged or released on parole prior to May 13, 1943, and persons serving sentences of life imprisonment without possibility of parole who have suffered more than one felony conviction.

(b) Board Investigation. Upon request of the Governor the board shall investigate and report on any application for reprieves, pardons and commutations of sentence. The board shall consider the application, the transcripts of judicial proceedings and all documents submitted with the application. Investigators for the board may take testimony, examine witnesses under oath and take all action necessary to conduct a full and complete investigation of the application. The board may require the court in which the conviction was had or the district attorney who prosecuted the action, to furnish it immediately with a summary of the facts proved at trial, any other facts relevant to issuing or denying the pardon, and any recommendations, including the reasons, concerning granting or denying the pardon.