MN SF3929

Chiefs of police and sheriffs may open expunged conviction records without a court order to investigate whether a person is eligible to purchase, receive, or carry a firearm under Minnesota's permit and transfer laws

Applies only to records expunged on or after January 1, 2015; records expunged before that date remain permanently sealed and cannot be opened or exchanged

Law enforcement must notify applicants when an expunged record is used as the basis for denying a permit or disqualifying a firearm transfer, and must provide a copy of the record upon request

If the expunged record does not result in a denial, law enforcement must store the record in a manner that restricts its use solely to the investigation for which it was obtained

Expunged records opened under this provision remain subject to the original expungement order and may only be further used for appeals of permit denials or disqualification determinations