MS HB1504

Amends Section 99-19-71 of Mississippi Code to modify the list of felonies eligible for expungement.

Adds "sell or" language to controlled substance offenses under Section 41-29-139(a), (b), (c) or (d), clarifying that both sale and possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia qualify for expungement after five years of successful sentence completion.

Allows persons under age 21 at time of felony commission to petition for expungement of one conviction five years after sentence completion, with exceptions for crimes of violence and drug distribution felonies deemed inappropriate for expungement by the circuit court.

Requires petitioner to provide ten days' written notice to the district attorney before any expungement hearing, and mandates courts make specific findings if denying a petition.

Takes effect July 1, 2019.