SB153 Summary

• Allows persons adjudged youthful offenders for misdemeanor offenses, violations, traffic violations, or municipal ordinance violations to petition for record expungement under specified circumstances.

• Expungement eligibility requires completion of all probation/parole requirements including fines and restitution, three years passage from conviction date, and excludes violent offenses, sex offenses, and serious traffic offenses.

• Permits expungement for charges dismissed with prejudice, no-billed by grand jury, resulting in not guilty findings, or nolle prossed without conditions after 90 days have passed.

• Allows expungement for charges dismissed after successful completion of drug court, mental health court, diversion, veteran's court, or other court-approved deferred prosecution programs, with petitions filed one year after program completion.

• Provides that expunged records may still be disclosed to criminal justice agencies, prosecutors, the Department of Human Resources, and financial institutions; expunged charges remain available in civil matters but must be redacted upon conclusion.

• Takes effect October 1, 2024.