FL S0488

Reduces the retention period for minor offenders' criminal history records from 5 years to 2 years after reaching age 19, at which point records must be expunged unless they meet certain criteria.

Creates a nonjudicial expunction process through the Department of Law Enforcement for cases where charges were not filed, dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or involved lawful self-defense; requires $75 processing fee and certified statement from state attorney.

Establishes a nonjudicial sealing process for guilty pleas or convictions of nonviolent misdemeanors and other specified offenses; allows individuals to deny or fail to acknowledge sealed arrests except in limited circumstances (criminal justice employment, ongoing prosecution, specific government positions).

Restructures court-ordered expunction by requiring applicants to first obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Department of Law Enforcement, then petition the court; limits court-ordered expunction to one record per person but allows discretionary expunction of related arrests.

Requires sworn statements from applicants for both expunction and sealing, with false statements constituting felony perjury; updates references across multiple statutes to align with new expunction and sealing procedures.