87R880 JRR-D
 
  By: Collier H.B. No. 859
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expunction of all records and files related to
  arrests for certain decriminalized misdemeanor offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 55, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 55.012 to read as follows:
         Art. 55.012.  EXPUNCTION OF DECRIMINALIZED MISDEMEANOR
  OFFENSES. (a) A person who has been placed under a custodial or
  noncustodial arrest for an offense is entitled to the expunction of
  all records and files related to the arrest, including, as
  applicable, any records and files related to a conviction of the
  offense, if:
               (1)  the person is convicted of or placed on deferred
  adjudication community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter
  42A, for the offense for which the person was arrested;
               (2)  the offense for which the person was arrested was a
  misdemeanor offense and the conduct that was the subject of the
  offense as applied to the person has been decriminalized subsequent
  to the date of the commission of the offense; and
               (3)  as applicable:
                     (A)  the person's sentence, including any term of
  confinement or period of community supervision imposed and payment
  of all fines and costs imposed, is finally discharged; or
                     (B)  the person received a discharge and dismissal
  under Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, for the offense.
         (b)  The person must submit an ex parte petition for
  expunction to the court that convicted the person or placed the
  person on deferred adjudication community supervision. The
  petition must be verified and must contain the information
  described by Section 2(b), Article 55.02.
         (c)  At a hearing held on a petition for expunction under
  this article, the court may require the petitioner to demonstrate
  that the offense that is the subject of the petition qualifies as a
  decriminalized offense under current law.  The demonstration may
  include an affidavit signed by the petitioner attesting to the fact
  that the offense that is the subject of the petition qualifies as a
  decriminalized offense under current law.
         (d)  If the court finds that the petitioner is entitled to
  expunction of the records and files that are the subject of the
  petition, the court shall enter an order directing expunction in a
  manner consistent with the procedures described by Section 1a,
  Article 55.02.
         (e)  Notwithstanding any other law, the law enforcement
  agency, the prosecuting attorney responsible for investigating the
  offense, and the clerk of the applicable court may retain the
  records and files relating to the arrest for the offense, including
  any records and files related to a conviction of the offense, to be
  used only:
               (1)  for the investigation or prosecution of another
  offense arising out of the same transaction for which the person was
  arrested; or
               (2)  by the office of the governor in determining
  whether to issue a pardon or commute a sentence.
         (f)  The records and files for which an order of expunction
  has been issued under this article are not open for inspection by
  anyone, except that the records and files are open for inspection by
  the person who is the subject of the order or for the purposes
  described by Subsection (e).
         SECTION 2.  Section 109.005(a), Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A business entity may not publish any criminal record
  information in the business entity's possession with respect to
  which the business entity has knowledge or has received notice
  that:
               (1)  an order of expunction has been issued under
  Chapter 55 [Article 55.02], Code of Criminal Procedure; or
               (2)  an order of nondisclosure of criminal history
  record information has been issued under Subchapter E-1, Chapter
  411, Government Code.
         SECTION 3.  Article 55.011(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A close relative of a deceased person who, if not
  deceased, would be entitled to expunction of records and files
  under this chapter [Article 55.01] may file on behalf of the
  deceased person an ex parte petition for expunction under Section 2
  or 2a, Article 55.02, or Article 55.012, as applicable. If the
  court finds that the deceased person would be entitled to
  expunction of any record or file that is the subject of the
  petition, the court shall enter an order directing expunction.
         SECTION 4.  Article 102.006(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The fees under Subsection (a) or the fee under
  Subsection (a-1), as applicable, shall be waived if:
               (1)  the petitioner seeks expunction of a criminal
  record that relates to an arrest for an offense of which the person
  was acquitted, other than an acquittal for an offense described by
  Article 55.01(c), and the petition for expunction is filed not
  later than the 30th day after the date of the acquittal; or
               (2)  the petitioner is entitled to expunction under
  Article 55.012.
         SECTION 5.  Section 411.0835, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 411.0835.  PROHIBITION AGAINST DISSEMINATION TO
  CERTAIN PRIVATE ENTITIES. If the department receives information
  indicating that a private entity that purchases criminal history
  record information from the department has been found by a court to
  have committed three or more violations of Section 552.1425 by
  compiling or disseminating information with respect to which an
  order of expunction has been issued under Chapter 55 [Article
  55.02], Code of Criminal Procedure, or an order of nondisclosure of
  criminal history record information has been issued under
  Subchapter E-1, the department may not release any criminal history
  record information to that entity until the first anniversary of
  the date of the most recent violation.
         SECTION 6.  Section 411.0851(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A private entity that compiles and disseminates for
  compensation criminal history record information shall destroy and
  may not disseminate any information in the possession of the entity
  with respect to which the entity has received notice that:
               (1)  an order of expunction has been issued under
  Chapter 55 [Article 55.02], Code of Criminal Procedure; or
               (2)  an order of nondisclosure of criminal history
  record information has been issued under Subchapter E-1.
         SECTION 7.  Section 411.151(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A person may petition for the expunction of a DNA record
  under the procedures established under Article 55.02, Code of
  Criminal Procedure, if the person is entitled to the expunction of
  records relating to the offense to which the DNA record is related
  under Chapter 55 [Article 55.01], Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 8.  Section 552.1425(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A private entity that compiles and disseminates for
  compensation criminal history record information may not compile or
  disseminate information with respect to which the entity has
  received notice that:
               (1)  an order of expunction has been issued under
  Chapter 55 [Article 55.02], Code of Criminal Procedure; or
               (2)  an order of nondisclosure of criminal history
  record information has been issued under Subchapter E-1, Chapter
  411.
         SECTION 9.  This Act applies to an expunction of arrest
  records and files relating to any misdemeanor offense that was
  committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.