BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 252

By: Johnson, Ann

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Specialty court programs have been proven to decrease recidivism rates among defendants. However, some specialty court programs allow a defendant who has successfully completed the program to file a petition of nondisclosure of criminal history record information after a two‑year waiting period while other similarly structured court programs do not provide for this. A person who completes a specialty court program should be afforded a new opportunity to continue their life without fear of their criminal record interfering with future career prospects. H.B. 252 seeks to address this issue by allowing every specialty court program participant to apply for a petition for nondisclosure two years after successfully completing their program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 252 amends the Government Code to expand the eligibility for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information to include any criminal defendant who has successfully completed a specialty court program and satisfies the statutory requirements for such an order.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.