Relating to the eligibility of a criminal defendant for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

This bill would modify the current rules pertaining to an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information. Under current law, if an individual has been convicted and confined, or convicted and placed on community supervision they would be ineligible for orders of non-disclosure. If this bill passes, a person would be eligible for an order of nondisclosure even if they were convicted of a misdemeanor crime, as long as the crime was not involving handling a motor vehicle while intoxicated, weapons, prostitution, offenses against the family, assault, sex offenses, and other serious crimes. 

This bill would increase the amount of people who are eligible for orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information; while at the same time ensuring that individuals who have previously been a threat to the public are ineligible for nondisclosure. We support orders of nondisclosure for nonviolent and nonsexual offenses because it gives offenders a second chance to live a fulfilling and productive life. This bill satisfies our commitment to both individual liberty and limited government.