HB5023 Summary

• Amends the Criminal Identification Act to redefine "expunge" and "seal" to align with the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, distinguishing between circuit court clerk records and arresting agency/Illinois State Police records.

• Clarifies that expungement of records by arresting agencies and Illinois State Police means physically destroying records or obliterating the petitioner's name from public indices, while circuit court clerk records are expunged according to the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act.

• Modifies sealing definitions to differentiate between circuit court clerk records (sealed per the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act) and records maintained by arresting agencies and Illinois State Police (sealed through physical and electronic means to make records unavailable without court order).

• Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to change the terminology in eviction actions from "sealing" to "impounding" court files and adds a new provision allowing courts to order impounding of court files by agreement of the parties.

• Updates the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act to define "expunged" records as accessible only upon court order, removing cross-reference language to the Criminal Identification Act.