H.B. No. 448 Summary

• Prohibits persons convicted of "unsealable offenses" from legally changing their name, including those convicted of sexually oriented offenses, child-victim oriented offenses, identity fraud, and certain felonies that cannot be sealed under Ohio law.

• Requires probate courts to obtain criminal records checks before granting name change applications, with courts denying applications if applicants have unsealable offense convictions.

• Establishes that courts must request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to conduct criminal records checks on all name change applicants, including federal bureau of investigation checks when applicants lack five-year Ohio residency.

• Defines "unsealable offense" to include sexually oriented offenses, child-victim oriented offenses, identity fraud, and any felony conviction that section 2953.36 specifies cannot be sealed under Ohio's record sealing statutes.

• Amends sections 109.57, 109.572, 109.60, and 2717.01 of the Revised Code to implement these restrictions and criminal records check requirements for name change proceedings.