HB 2320 Summary

• Establishes a new process for petitioning courts to seal criminal records for persons convicted of offenses, charged and dismissed, found not guilty, or arrested with no charges filed, subject to specific waiting periods based on felony/misdemeanor classification (2-10 years).

• Permits sealed records to be used for impeachment, sentencing enhancement, historical prior conviction consideration, and in subsequent prosecutions, with limited exceptions for certain crimes including sex crimes, crimes against children, violent felonies, and offenses using weapons.

• Restricts disclosure of sealed records to specific entities including law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, probation departments, corrections facilities, victims with exercise rights, and the person whose records are sealed.

• Allows persons with sealed records to deny arrest or conviction in employment, housing, and financial applications, except for fingerprint clearance cards, sexual abuse crimes, burglary/theft of residences, crimes against minors or vulnerable adults, and other specific employment contexts.

• Appropriates $500,000 to the Administrative Office of the Courts for implementation costs and establishes an effective date of December 31, 2022.