Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Positive |
Relating to the expunction of arrest records and files by a statutory county court.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 3022 would add statutory county courts to the list of courts required to expunge the criminal files of a defendant acquitted by an appeals court or recommended for expunction prior to trial by the state attorney. They would only be required to expunge the records of a person charged under their jurisdiction.
Texas Action supports HB 3022 because it would promote individual liberty and limited government. Many statutory county courts have jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases. Criminal history records can limit a person’s ability to gain housing or employment. HB 3022 would include those acquitted of charges from statutory county courts in expungement requirements, entitling them to have their records expunged. A person acquitted of charges should not have those charges continue to follow them around afterward.