HB5425 Summary

• Amends the Criminal Identification Act to provide for automatic expungement of misdemeanor and petty offense violations for minor cannabis offenses similar to state law offenses, including possession of drug paraphernalia intended for cannabis use.

• Establishes that satisfactory completion of supervision and qualified probation for minor cannabis offenses qualify for expungement recommendations by the Prisoner Review Board to the Governor for pardon authorization.

• Creates automatic expungement timelines for law enforcement and court records of minor cannabis violations: records from 2013-2019 by January 1, 2021; records from 2000-2012 by January 1, 2023; records before 2000 by January 1, 2025.

• Allows individuals to petition courts to vacate and expunge misdemeanor or Class 4 felony cannabis convictions under Sections 4 and 5 of the Cannabis Control Act, with courts considering petitioner's age, time since conviction, and adverse consequences.

• Amends the State Finance Act to allocate funds from the Cannabis Expungement Fund to circuit court clerks through the Supreme Court for disbursement into the Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Fund to support expungement petition processing.