88R957 JCG-D
 
  By: Wu H.B. No. 519
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expunction of arrest records and files when a grand
  jury fails to find that probable cause exists to believe the alleged
  offense was committed.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 55.01(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended 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);
                     (B)  convicted and subsequently:
                           (i)  pardoned for a reason other than that
  described by Subparagraph (ii); or
                           (ii)  pardoned or otherwise granted relief
  on the basis of actual innocence with respect to that offense, if
  the applicable pardon or court order clearly indicates on its face
  that the pardon or order was granted or rendered on the basis of the
  person's actual innocence; or
                     (C)  convicted of an offense committed before
  September 1, 2021, under Section 46.02(a), Penal Code, as that
  section existed before that date; 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 Chapter
  42A for the offense, unless the offense is a Class C misdemeanor,
  provided that:
                     (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
                                 (e)  the presentment did not occur
  solely because the grand jury failed to find that probable cause
  exists to believe the person committed the offense; or
                           (ii)  if presented at any time following the
  arrest, was dismissed or quashed, and the court finds that the
  indictment or information was dismissed or quashed because:
                                 (a)  the person completed a veterans
  treatment court program created under Chapter 124, Government Code,
  or former law, subject to Subsection (a-3);
                                 (b)  the person completed a mental
  health court program created under Chapter 125, Government Code, or
  former law, subject to Subsection (a-4);
                                 (c)  the person completed a pretrial
  intervention program authorized under Section 76.011, Government
  Code, other than a veterans treatment court program created under
  Chapter 124, Government Code, or former law, or a mental health
  court program created under Chapter 125, Government Code, or former
  law;
                                 (d)  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
                                 (e)  the indictment or information 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.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to the
  expunction of arrest records and files for any criminal offense
  that occurred before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.