AZ HB2198

Allows individuals convicted of petty offenses to immediately petition to have their criminal records sealed upon completing all terms and conditions of their sentence, including payment of monetary obligations and restitution

Adds petty offenses to the existing tiered waiting period system for record sealing, which currently requires 10 years for class 2-3 felonies, 5 years for class 4-6 felonies, 3 years for class 1 misdemeanors, and 2 years for class 2-3 misdemeanors

Individuals with sealed petty offense records may legally state they have never been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of the sealed offense on employment, housing, and loan applications, with certain exceptions for sensitive positions

Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, probation departments, and child welfare agencies for official purposes, and can still be used for sentence enhancement in subsequent prosecutions