S.B. No. 462
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expunction of records and files relating to a
  person's arrest.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 55.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (a-1) and adding Subsection
  (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a)  A person who has been placed under a custodial or
  noncustodial arrest for commission of either a felony or
  misdemeanor is entitled to have all records and files relating to
  the arrest expunged if:
               (1)  the person is tried for the offense for which the
  person was arrested and is:
                     (A)  acquitted by the trial court, except as
  provided by Subsection (c) [of this section]; or
                     (B)  convicted and subsequently pardoned; or
               (2)  the person has been released and the charge, if
  any, has not resulted in a final conviction and is no longer pending
  and there was no court-ordered community supervision under Article
  42.12 for the offense, unless the offense is a Class C misdemeanor,
  provided that [each of the following conditions exist]:
                     (A)  regardless of whether any statute of
  limitations exists for the offense and whether any limitations
  period for the offense has expired, an indictment or information
  charging the person with the commission of a misdemeanor offense
  based on the person's arrest or charging the person with the
  commission of any felony offense arising out of the same
  transaction for which the person was arrested:
                           (i)  has not been presented against the
  person at any time following the arrest, and:
                                 (a)  at least 180 days have elapsed
  from the date of arrest if the arrest for which the expunction was
  sought was for an offense punishable as a Class C misdemeanor and if
  there was no felony charge arising out of the same transaction for
  which the person was arrested;
                                 (b)  at least one year has elapsed from
  the date of arrest if the arrest for which the expunction was sought
  was for an offense punishable as a Class B or A misdemeanor and if
  there was no felony charge arising out of the same transaction for
  which the person was arrested;
                                 (c)  at least three years have elapsed
  from the date of arrest if the arrest for which the expunction was
  sought was for an offense punishable as a felony or if there was a
  felony charge arising out of the same transaction for which the
  person was arrested; or
                                 (d)  the attorney representing the
  state certifies that the applicable arrest records and files are
  not needed for use in any criminal investigation or prosecution,
  including an investigation or prosecution of another person; or
                           (ii)  [for an offense arising out of the
  transaction for which the person was arrested or,] if [an
  indictment or information charging the person with commission of a
  felony was] presented at any time following the arrest, was[, the
  indictment or information has been] dismissed or quashed, and[:
                           [(i)     the limitations period expired before
  the date on which a petition for expunction was filed under Article
  55.02; or
                           [(ii)]  the court finds that the indictment
  or information was dismissed or quashed because the person
  completed a pretrial intervention program authorized under Section
  76.011, Government Code, [or] because the presentment had been made
  because of mistake, false information, or other similar reason
  indicating absence of probable cause at the time of the dismissal to
  believe the person committed the offense, or because the indictment
  or information [it] was void; or
                     (B)  prosecution of the person for the offense for
  which the person was arrested is no longer possible because the
  limitations period has expired [the person has been released and
  the charge, if any, has not resulted in a final conviction and is no
  longer pending and there was no court ordered community supervision
  under Article 42.12 for any offense other than a Class C
  misdemeanor; and
                     [(C)     the person has not been convicted of a
  felony in the five years preceding the date of the arrest].
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this article,
  a person may not expunge records and files relating to an arrest
  that occurs pursuant to a warrant issued under Section 21, Article
  42.12 [Subsection (a)(2)(C), a person's conviction of a felony in
  the five years preceding the date of the arrest does not affect the
  person's entitlement to expunction for purposes of an ex parte
  petition filed on behalf of the person by the director of the
  Department of Public Safety under Section 2(e), Article 55.02].
         (a-2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this article,
  a person who intentionally or knowingly absconds from the
  jurisdiction after being released under Chapter 17 following an
  arrest is not eligible under Subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)(a), (b), or
  (c) or Subsection (a)(2)(B) for an expunction of the records and
  files relating to that arrest.
         SECTION 2.  Section 4, Article 55.02, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 4.  (a)  If the state establishes that the person who is
  the subject of an expunction order is still subject to conviction
  for an offense arising out of the transaction for which the person
  was arrested because the statute of limitations has not run and
  there is reasonable cause to believe that the state may proceed
  against the person for the offense, the court may provide in its
  expunction order that the law enforcement agency and the
  prosecuting attorney responsible for investigating the offense may
  retain any records and files that are necessary to the
  investigation.
         (a-1)  The court shall provide in its expunction order that
  the applicable law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney may
  retain the arrest records and files of any person who becomes
  entitled to an expunction of those records and files based on the
  expiration of a period described by Article 55.01(a)(2)(A)(i)(a),
  (b), or (c), but without the certification of the prosecuting
  attorney as described by Article 55.01(a)(2)(A)(i)(d).
         (a-2)  In the case of a person who is the subject of an
  expunction order on the basis of an acquittal, the court may provide
  in the expunction order that the law enforcement agency and the
  prosecuting attorney retain records and files if:
               (1)  the records and files are necessary to conduct a
  subsequent investigation and prosecution of a person other than the
  person who is the subject of the expunction order; or
               (2)  the state establishes that the records and files
  are necessary for use in:
                     (A)  another criminal case, including a
  prosecution, motion to adjudicate or revoke community supervision,
  parole revocation hearing, mandatory supervision revocation
  hearing, punishment hearing, or bond hearing; or
                     (B)  a civil case, including a civil suit or suit
  for possession of or access to a child.
         (b)  Unless the person who is the subject of the expunction
  order is again arrested for or charged with an offense arising out
  of the transaction for which the person was arrested or unless the
  court provides for the retention of records and files under
  Subsection (a-1) or (a-2) [(a) of this section], the provisions of
  Articles 55.03 and 55.04 [of this code] apply to files and records
  retained under this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies to an expunction of arrest
  records and files for any criminal offense that occurred before,
  on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 462 passed the Senate on
  May 2, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4; and that the
  Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, 2011, by the
  following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 462 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 147,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor