HB 19-1275 Summary

• Expands criminal record sealing eligibility for individuals no longer under supervision by creating new sealing procedures for arrests without charges, dismissals, acquittals, and diversions.

• Establishes tiered timelines for sealing conviction records based on offense severity: petty offenses after 1 year, misdemeanors after 2-3 years, felonies after 3-5 years from final disposition or release from supervision.

• Allows human trafficking victims to seal records for any misdemeanor or municipal violation committed as a direct result of trafficking, and allows sealing of records for victims of human trafficking regardless of offense severity in certain cases.

• Provides $47,361 to judicial department and $443,847 to department of public safety for implementation, with processing fees of $65 for most sealing motions (waivable upon indigency determination).

• Restricts sealing for serious offenses including sex crimes, crimes of violence, DUI, domestic violence, crimes enumerated in victim notification statute, and certain other felonies unless district attorney consents or court finds clear and convincing evidence of significant need.