S.B. No. 223 Summary

• Allows courts to seal records of charges dismissed through intervention in lieu of conviction when connected to an operating-a-vehicle-under-the-influence (OVI) conviction under sections 4511.19 or 4511.194 of the Revised Code.

• Creates new section 2953.522 to establish procedures for sealing dismissed charges after at least one year has passed since dismissal due to successful completion of an intervention plan.

• Permits courts to create a subfile under the existing case number containing only the OVI conviction record and related documents, while sealing all other charges from public records and searchable indices.

• Authorizes court clerks to spend computerization funds upon written request (expanding existing provisions in sections 1901.261, 1907.261, 2101.162, 2151.541, 2153.081, 2301.031, and 2303.201).

• Takes effect one year after passage, with the sealing provisions applying retroactively to applications filed on or after the effective date regardless of when charges were dismissed.