NC S570

Expands eligibility for Certificates of Relief to individuals convicted of criminal offenses no higher than a Class G felony (previously limited to no more than two Class G, H, or I felonies or misdemeanors).

Increases the waiting period before petitioning for a Certificate of Relief from 12 months to 36 months after sentence completion for individuals with more than five eligible convictions; maintains 12-month requirement for those with five or fewer convictions.

Allows individuals who have previously received an expunction and are subsequently charged with a crime to apply for expunction of a finding of not guilty or not responsible, provided they had no prior felony convictions and had not previously received certain other expungements.

Requires petitioners to pay a $50 filing fee to the clerk of superior court, with an exemption for indigent filers; collected fees deposited in the General Fund.

Becomes effective October 1, 2016, and applies to petitions for expunction and certificates of relief filed on or after that date.