103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4851

 

Introduced 2/7/2024, by Rep. Tony M. McCombie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2630/5.2

    Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the court may not order the sealing or expungement of the records of arrests or charges not initiated by arrest that result in an order of supervision for or conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof (DUI) under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; except that the court may order the sealing of one misdemeanor record of arrest or charge not initiated by arrest that results in an order of supervision for or conviction of DUI under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance per petitioner if each of the following conditions have been met: (1) the petitioner has not previously been convicted of or placed on supervision for DUI under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) 10 or more years have passed since the termination of the petitioner's sentence; (3) during the commission of the violation, the petitioner did not proximately cause death or personal injury to any other person or damage the property of any other person; (4) the petitioner has no other misdemeanor or felony driving charge on his or her driving abstract; and (5) the judge examined the driving abstract of the petitioner petitioning to have his or her records sealed under this provision and made a finding entered on the record that the petitioner did not enter into a plea agreement on a lesser charge other than a DUI under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, and the facts did not support that the petitioner had previously committed a DUI under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance. Provides that the Secretary of State shall maintain orders of court supervision and convictions for DUI under the Illinois vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance on court purposes driving abstracts.


LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4851LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Identification Act is amended by
5changing Section 5.2 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2630/5.2)
7    Sec. 5.2. Expungement, sealing, and immediate sealing.
8    (a) General Provisions.
9        (1) Definitions. In this Act, words and phrases have
10    the meanings set forth in this subsection, except when a
11    particular context clearly requires a different meaning.
12            (A) The following terms shall have the meanings
13        ascribed to them in the following Sections of the
14        Unified Code of Corrections:
15                Business Offense, Section 5-1-2.
16                Charge, Section 5-1-3.
17                Court, Section 5-1-6.
18                Defendant, Section 5-1-7.
19                Felony, Section 5-1-9.
20                Imprisonment, Section 5-1-10.
21                Judgment, Section 5-1-12.
22                Misdemeanor, Section 5-1-14.
23                Offense, Section 5-1-15.

 

 

HB4851- 2 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1                Parole, Section 5-1-16.
2                Petty Offense, Section 5-1-17.
3                Probation, Section 5-1-18.
4                Sentence, Section 5-1-19.
5                Supervision, Section 5-1-21.
6                Victim, Section 5-1-22.
7            (B) As used in this Section, "charge not initiated
8        by arrest" means a charge (as defined by Section 5-1-3
9        of the Unified Code of Corrections) brought against a
10        defendant where the defendant is not arrested prior to
11        or as a direct result of the charge.
12            (C) "Conviction" means a judgment of conviction or
13        sentence entered upon a plea of guilty or upon a
14        verdict or finding of guilty of an offense, rendered
15        by a legally constituted jury or by a court of
16        competent jurisdiction authorized to try the case
17        without a jury. An order of supervision successfully
18        completed by the petitioner is not a conviction. An
19        order of qualified probation (as defined in subsection
20        (a)(1)(J)) successfully completed by the petitioner is
21        not a conviction. An order of supervision or an order
22        of qualified probation that is terminated
23        unsatisfactorily is a conviction, unless the
24        unsatisfactory termination is reversed, vacated, or
25        modified and the judgment of conviction, if any, is
26        reversed or vacated.

 

 

HB4851- 3 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            (D) "Criminal offense" means a petty offense,
2        business offense, misdemeanor, felony, or municipal
3        ordinance violation (as defined in subsection
4        (a)(1)(H)). As used in this Section, a minor traffic
5        offense (as defined in subsection (a)(1)(G)) shall not
6        be considered a criminal offense.
7            (E) "Expunge" means to physically destroy the
8        records or return them to the petitioner and to
9        obliterate the petitioner's name from any official
10        index or public record, or both. Nothing in this Act
11        shall require the physical destruction of the circuit
12        court file, but such records relating to arrests or
13        charges, or both, ordered expunged shall be impounded
14        as required by subsections (d)(9)(A)(ii) and
15        (d)(9)(B)(ii).
16            (F) As used in this Section, "last sentence" means
17        the sentence, order of supervision, or order of
18        qualified probation (as defined by subsection
19        (a)(1)(J)), for a criminal offense (as defined by
20        subsection (a)(1)(D)) that terminates last in time in
21        any jurisdiction, regardless of whether the petitioner
22        has included the criminal offense for which the
23        sentence or order of supervision or qualified
24        probation was imposed in his or her petition. If
25        multiple sentences, orders of supervision, or orders
26        of qualified probation terminate on the same day and

 

 

HB4851- 4 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        are last in time, they shall be collectively
2        considered the "last sentence" regardless of whether
3        they were ordered to run concurrently.
4            (G) "Minor traffic offense" means a petty offense,
5        business offense, or Class C misdemeanor under the
6        Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a
7        municipal or local ordinance.
8            (G-5) "Minor Cannabis Offense" means a violation
9        of Section 4 or 5 of the Cannabis Control Act
10        concerning not more than 30 grams of any substance
11        containing cannabis, provided the violation did not
12        include a penalty enhancement under Section 7 of the
13        Cannabis Control Act and is not associated with an
14        arrest, conviction or other disposition for a violent
15        crime as defined in subsection (c) of Section 3 of the
16        Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act.
17            (H) "Municipal ordinance violation" means an
18        offense defined by a municipal or local ordinance that
19        is criminal in nature and with which the petitioner
20        was charged or for which the petitioner was arrested
21        and released without charging.
22            (I) "Petitioner" means an adult or a minor
23        prosecuted as an adult who has applied for relief
24        under this Section.
25            (J) "Qualified probation" means an order of
26        probation under Section 10 of the Cannabis Control

 

 

HB4851- 5 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances
2        Act, Section 70 of the Methamphetamine Control and
3        Community Protection Act, Section 5-6-3.3 or 5-6-3.4
4        of the Unified Code of Corrections, Section
5        12-4.3(b)(1) and (2) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (as
6        those provisions existed before their deletion by
7        Public Act 89-313), Section 10-102 of the Illinois
8        Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act, Section
9        40-10 of the Substance Use Disorder Act, or Section 10
10        of the Steroid Control Act. For the purpose of this
11        Section, "successful completion" of an order of
12        qualified probation under Section 10-102 of the
13        Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act and
14        Section 40-10 of the Substance Use Disorder Act means
15        that the probation was terminated satisfactorily and
16        the judgment of conviction was vacated.
17            (K) "Seal" means to physically and electronically
18        maintain the records, unless the records would
19        otherwise be destroyed due to age, but to make the
20        records unavailable without a court order, subject to
21        the exceptions in Sections 12 and 13 of this Act. The
22        petitioner's name shall also be obliterated from the
23        official index required to be kept by the circuit
24        court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts
25        Act, but any index issued by the circuit court clerk
26        before the entry of the order to seal shall not be

 

 

HB4851- 6 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        affected.
2            (L) "Sexual offense committed against a minor"
3        includes, but is not limited to, the offenses of
4        indecent solicitation of a child or criminal sexual
5        abuse when the victim of such offense is under 18 years
6        of age.
7            (M) "Terminate" as it relates to a sentence or
8        order of supervision or qualified probation includes
9        either satisfactory or unsatisfactory termination of
10        the sentence, unless otherwise specified in this
11        Section. A sentence is terminated notwithstanding any
12        outstanding financial legal obligation.
13        (2) Minor Traffic Offenses. Orders of supervision or
14    convictions for minor traffic offenses shall not affect a
15    petitioner's eligibility to expunge or seal records
16    pursuant to this Section.
17        (2.5) Commencing 180 days after July 29, 2016 (the
18    effective date of Public Act 99-697), the law enforcement
19    agency issuing the citation shall automatically expunge,
20    on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, the law
21    enforcement records of a person found to have committed a
22    civil law violation of subsection (a) of Section 4 of the
23    Cannabis Control Act or subsection (c) of Section 3.5 of
24    the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act in the law enforcement
25    agency's possession or control and which contains the
26    final satisfactory disposition which pertain to the person

 

 

HB4851- 7 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    issued a citation for that offense. The law enforcement
2    agency shall provide by rule the process for access,
3    review, and to confirm the automatic expungement by the
4    law enforcement agency issuing the citation. Commencing
5    180 days after July 29, 2016 (the effective date of Public
6    Act 99-697), the clerk of the circuit court shall expunge,
7    upon order of the court, or in the absence of a court order
8    on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, the court
9    records of a person found in the circuit court to have
10    committed a civil law violation of subsection (a) of
11    Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act or subsection (c) of
12    Section 3.5 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act in the
13    clerk's possession or control and which contains the final
14    satisfactory disposition which pertain to the person
15    issued a citation for any of those offenses.
16        (3) Exclusions. Except as otherwise provided in
17    subsections (b)(5), (b)(6), (b)(8), (e), (e-5), and (e-6)
18    of this Section, the court shall not order:
19            (A) the sealing or expungement of the records of
20        arrests or charges not initiated by arrest that result
21        in an order of supervision for or conviction of: (i)
22        any sexual offense committed against a minor; (ii)
23        Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a
24        similar provision of a local ordinance if, at the time
25        of the violation, the person held a commercial
26        driver's license or commercial learner's permit or was

 

 

HB4851- 8 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        operating a commercial motor vehicle; or (iii) Section
2        11-503 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar
3        provision of a local ordinance, unless the arrest or
4        charge is for a misdemeanor violation of subsection
5        (a) of Section 11-503 or a similar provision of a local
6        ordinance, that occurred prior to the offender
7        reaching the age of 25 years and the offender has no
8        other conviction for violating Section 11-501 or
9        11-503 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar
10        provision of a local ordinance.
11            (B) the sealing or expungement of records of minor
12        traffic offenses (as defined in subsection (a)(1)(G)),
13        unless the petitioner was arrested and released
14        without charging.
15            (C) the sealing of the records of arrests or
16        charges not initiated by arrest which result in an
17        order of supervision or a conviction for the following
18        offenses:
19                (i) offenses included in Article 11 of the
20            Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012
21            or a similar provision of a local ordinance,
22            except Section 11-14 and a misdemeanor violation
23            of Section 11-30 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or
24            the Criminal Code of 2012, or a similar provision
25            of a local ordinance;
26                (ii) Section 11-1.50, 12-3.4, 12-15, 12-30,

 

 

HB4851- 9 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            26-5, or 48-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
2            Criminal Code of 2012, or a similar provision of a
3            local ordinance;
4                (iii) Section 12-3.1 or 12-3.2 of the Criminal
5            Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or
6            Section 125 of the Stalking No Contact Order Act,
7            or Section 219 of the Civil No Contact Order Act,
8            or a similar provision of a local ordinance;
9                (iv) Class A misdemeanors or felony offenses
10            under the Humane Care for Animals Act; or
11                (v) any offense or attempted offense that
12            would subject a person to registration under the
13            Sex Offender Registration Act.
14            (D) (blank).
15            (E) the sealing or expungement of records of
16        arrests or charges not initiated by arrest that result
17        in an order of supervision for or conviction of
18        Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a
19        similar provision of a local ordinance; except that
20        the court may order the sealing of one misdemeanor
21        record of arrest or charge not initiated by arrest
22        that results in an order of supervision for or
23        conviction of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle
24        Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance per
25        petitioner if each of the following conditions have
26        been met: (i) the petitioner has not previously been

 

 

HB4851- 10 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        convicted of or placed on supervision for a violation
2        of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a
3        similar provision of a local ordinance; (ii) 10 or
4        more years have passed since the termination of the
5        petitioner's sentence; (iii) during the commission of
6        the violation, the petitioner did not proximately
7        cause death or personal injury to any other person or
8        damage the property of any other person; (iv) the
9        petitioner has no other misdemeanor or felony driving
10        charge on his or her driving abstract; and (v) the
11        judge examined the driving abstract of the petitioner
12        petitioning to have his or her record sealed under
13        this subparagraph (E) and made a finding entered on
14        the record that the petitioner did not enter into a
15        plea agreement on a lesser charge other than a
16        violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle
17        Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, and
18        the facts did not support that the petitioner had
19        previously committed a violation of Section 11-501 of
20        the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a
21        local ordinance. A felony conviction of Section 11-501
22        of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of
23        a local ordinance may not be sealed or expunged under
24        this subparagraph (E). Notwithstanding any provision
25        of this Act to the contrary, the Secretary of State
26        shall maintain orders of court supervision and

 

 

HB4851- 11 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        convictions of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle
2        Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance on
3        court purposes driving abstracts. This paragraph does
4        not apply to a person who held, at the time of the
5        violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle
6        Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, a
7        commercial driver's license or commercial learner's
8        permit or was operating a commercial motor vehicle.
9    (b) Expungement.
10        (1) A petitioner may petition the circuit court to
11    expunge the records of his or her arrests and charges not
12    initiated by arrest when each arrest or charge not
13    initiated by arrest sought to be expunged resulted in: (i)
14    acquittal, dismissal, or the petitioner's release without
15    charging, unless excluded by subsection (a)(3)(B); (ii) a
16    conviction which was vacated or reversed, unless excluded
17    by subsection (a)(3)(B); (iii) an order of supervision and
18    such supervision was successfully completed by the
19    petitioner, unless excluded by subsection (a)(3)(A) or
20    (a)(3)(B); or (iv) an order of qualified probation (as
21    defined in subsection (a)(1)(J)) and such probation was
22    successfully completed by the petitioner.
23        (1.5) When a petitioner seeks to have a record of
24    arrest expunged under this Section, and the offender has
25    been convicted of a criminal offense, the State's Attorney
26    may object to the expungement on the grounds that the

 

 

HB4851- 12 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    records contain specific relevant information aside from
2    the mere fact of the arrest.
3        (2) Time frame for filing a petition to expunge.
4            (A) When the arrest or charge not initiated by
5        arrest sought to be expunged resulted in an acquittal,
6        dismissal, the petitioner's release without charging,
7        or the reversal or vacation of a conviction, there is
8        no waiting period to petition for the expungement of
9        such records.
10            (B) When the arrest or charge not initiated by
11        arrest sought to be expunged resulted in an order of
12        supervision, successfully completed by the petitioner,
13        the following time frames will apply:
14                (i) Those arrests or charges that resulted in
15            orders of supervision under Section 3-707, 3-708,
16            3-710, or 5-401.3 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or
17            a similar provision of a local ordinance, or under
18            Section 11-1.50, 12-3.2, or 12-15 of the Criminal
19            Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or a
20            similar provision of a local ordinance, shall not
21            be eligible for expungement until 5 years have
22            passed following the satisfactory termination of
23            the supervision.
24                (i-5) Those arrests or charges that resulted
25            in orders of supervision for a misdemeanor
26            violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-503 of

 

 

HB4851- 13 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision
2            of a local ordinance, that occurred prior to the
3            offender reaching the age of 25 years and the
4            offender has no other conviction for violating
5            Section 11-501 or 11-503 of the Illinois Vehicle
6            Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
7            shall not be eligible for expungement until the
8            petitioner has reached the age of 25 years.
9                (ii) Those arrests or charges that resulted in
10            orders of supervision for any other offenses shall
11            not be eligible for expungement until 2 years have
12            passed following the satisfactory termination of
13            the supervision.
14            (C) When the arrest or charge not initiated by
15        arrest sought to be expunged resulted in an order of
16        qualified probation, successfully completed by the
17        petitioner, such records shall not be eligible for
18        expungement until 5 years have passed following the
19        satisfactory termination of the probation.
20        (3) Those records maintained by the Illinois State
21    Police for persons arrested prior to their 17th birthday
22    shall be expunged as provided in Section 5-915 of the
23    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
24        (4) Whenever a person has been arrested for or
25    convicted of any offense, in the name of a person whose
26    identity he or she has stolen or otherwise come into

 

 

HB4851- 14 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    possession of, the aggrieved person from whom the identity
2    was stolen or otherwise obtained without authorization,
3    upon learning of the person having been arrested using his
4    or her identity, may, upon verified petition to the chief
5    judge of the circuit wherein the arrest was made, have a
6    court order entered nunc pro tunc by the Chief Judge to
7    correct the arrest record, conviction record, if any, and
8    all official records of the arresting authority, the
9    Illinois State Police, other criminal justice agencies,
10    the prosecutor, and the trial court concerning such
11    arrest, if any, by removing his or her name from all such
12    records in connection with the arrest and conviction, if
13    any, and by inserting in the records the name of the
14    offender, if known or ascertainable, in lieu of the
15    aggrieved's name. The records of the circuit court clerk
16    shall be sealed until further order of the court upon good
17    cause shown and the name of the aggrieved person
18    obliterated on the official index required to be kept by
19    the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of
20    Courts Act, but the order shall not affect any index
21    issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the
22    order. Nothing in this Section shall limit the Illinois
23    State Police or other criminal justice agencies or
24    prosecutors from listing under an offender's name the
25    false names he or she has used.
26        (5) Whenever a person has been convicted of criminal

 

 

HB4851- 15 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault,
2    predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal
3    sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the
4    victim of that offense may request that the State's
5    Attorney of the county in which the conviction occurred
6    file a verified petition with the presiding trial judge at
7    the petitioner's trial to have a court order entered to
8    seal the records of the circuit court clerk in connection
9    with the proceedings of the trial court concerning that
10    offense. However, the records of the arresting authority
11    and the Illinois State Police concerning the offense shall
12    not be sealed. The court, upon good cause shown, shall
13    make the records of the circuit court clerk in connection
14    with the proceedings of the trial court concerning the
15    offense available for public inspection.
16        (6) If a conviction has been set aside on direct
17    review or on collateral attack and the court determines by
18    clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner was
19    factually innocent of the charge, the court that finds the
20    petitioner factually innocent of the charge shall enter an
21    expungement order for the conviction for which the
22    petitioner has been determined to be innocent as provided
23    in subsection (b) of Section 5-5-4 of the Unified Code of
24    Corrections.
25        (7) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Illinois
26    State Police from maintaining all records of any person

 

 

HB4851- 16 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    who is admitted to probation upon terms and conditions and
2    who fulfills those terms and conditions pursuant to
3    Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the
4    Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Section 70 of the
5    Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act,
6    Section 5-6-3.3 or 5-6-3.4 of the Unified Code of
7    Corrections, Section 12-4.3 or subdivision (b)(1) of
8    Section 12-3.05 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
9    Criminal Code of 2012, Section 10-102 of the Illinois
10    Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act, Section 40-10 of
11    the Substance Use Disorder Act, or Section 10 of the
12    Steroid Control Act.
13        (8) If the petitioner has been granted a certificate
14    of innocence under Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil
15    Procedure, the court that grants the certificate of
16    innocence shall also enter an order expunging the
17    conviction for which the petitioner has been determined to
18    be innocent as provided in subsection (h) of Section 2-702
19    of the Code of Civil Procedure.
20    (c) Sealing.
21        (1) Applicability. Notwithstanding any other provision
22    of this Act to the contrary, and cumulative with any
23    rights to expungement of criminal records, this subsection
24    authorizes the sealing of criminal records of adults and
25    of minors prosecuted as adults. Subsection (g) of this
26    Section provides for immediate sealing of certain records.

 

 

HB4851- 17 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        (2) Eligible Records. The following records may be
2    sealed:
3            (A) All arrests resulting in release without
4        charging;
5            (B) Arrests or charges not initiated by arrest
6        resulting in acquittal, dismissal, or conviction when
7        the conviction was reversed or vacated, except as
8        excluded by subsection (a)(3)(B);
9            (C) Arrests or charges not initiated by arrest
10        resulting in orders of supervision, including orders
11        of supervision for municipal ordinance violations,
12        successfully completed by the petitioner, unless
13        excluded by subsection (a)(3);
14            (D) Arrests or charges not initiated by arrest
15        resulting in convictions, including convictions on
16        municipal ordinance violations, unless excluded by
17        subsection (a)(3);
18            (E) Arrests or charges not initiated by arrest
19        resulting in orders of first offender probation under
20        Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of
21        the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Section 70 of
22        the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection
23        Act, or Section 5-6-3.3 of the Unified Code of
24        Corrections; and
25            (F) Arrests or charges not initiated by arrest
26        resulting in felony convictions unless otherwise

 

 

HB4851- 18 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        excluded by subsection (a) paragraph (3) of this
2        Section.
3        (3) When Records Are Eligible to Be Sealed. Records
4    identified as eligible under subsection (c)(2) may be
5    sealed as follows:
6            (A) Records identified as eligible under
7        subsections (c)(2)(A) and (c)(2)(B) may be sealed at
8        any time.
9            (B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph
10        (E) of this paragraph (3), records identified as
11        eligible under subsection (c)(2)(C) may be sealed 2
12        years after the termination of petitioner's last
13        sentence (as defined in subsection (a)(1)(F)).
14            (C) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph
15        (E) of this paragraph (3), records identified as
16        eligible under subsections (c)(2)(D), (c)(2)(E), and
17        (c)(2)(F) may be sealed 3 years after the termination
18        of the petitioner's last sentence (as defined in
19        subsection (a)(1)(F)). Convictions requiring public
20        registration under the Arsonist Registration Act, the
21        Sex Offender Registration Act, or the Murderer and
22        Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act may
23        not be sealed until the petitioner is no longer
24        required to register under that relevant Act.
25            (D) Records identified in subsection
26        (a)(3)(A)(iii) may be sealed after the petitioner has

 

 

HB4851- 19 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        reached the age of 25 years.
2            (E) Records identified as eligible under
3        subsection (c)(2)(C), (c)(2)(D), (c)(2)(E), or
4        (c)(2)(F) may be sealed upon termination of the
5        petitioner's last sentence if the petitioner earned a
6        high school diploma, associate's degree, career
7        certificate, vocational technical certification, or
8        bachelor's degree, or passed the high school level
9        Test of General Educational Development, during the
10        period of his or her sentence or mandatory supervised
11        release. This subparagraph shall apply only to a
12        petitioner who has not completed the same educational
13        goal prior to the period of his or her sentence or
14        mandatory supervised release. If a petition for
15        sealing eligible records filed under this subparagraph
16        is denied by the court, the time periods under
17        subparagraph (B) or (C) shall apply to any subsequent
18        petition for sealing filed by the petitioner.
19        (4) Subsequent felony convictions. A person may not
20    have subsequent felony conviction records sealed as
21    provided in this subsection (c) if he or she is convicted
22    of any felony offense after the date of the sealing of
23    prior felony convictions as provided in this subsection
24    (c). The court may, upon conviction for a subsequent
25    felony offense, order the unsealing of prior felony
26    conviction records previously ordered sealed by the court.

 

 

HB4851- 20 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        (5) Notice of eligibility for sealing. Upon entry of a
2    disposition for an eligible record under this subsection
3    (c), the petitioner shall be informed by the court of the
4    right to have the records sealed and the procedures for
5    the sealing of the records.
6    (d) Procedure. The following procedures apply to
7expungement under subsections (b), (e), and (e-6) and sealing
8under subsections (c) and (e-5):
9        (1) Filing the petition. Upon becoming eligible to
10    petition for the expungement or sealing of records under
11    this Section, the petitioner shall file a petition
12    requesting the expungement or sealing of records with the
13    clerk of the court where the arrests occurred or the
14    charges were brought, or both. If arrests occurred or
15    charges were brought in multiple jurisdictions, a petition
16    must be filed in each such jurisdiction. The petitioner
17    shall pay the applicable fee, except no fee shall be
18    required if the petitioner has obtained a court order
19    waiving fees under Supreme Court Rule 298 or it is
20    otherwise waived.
21        (1.5) County fee waiver pilot program. From August 9,
22    2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-306) through
23    December 31, 2020, in a county of 3,000,000 or more
24    inhabitants, no fee shall be required to be paid by a
25    petitioner if the records sought to be expunged or sealed
26    were arrests resulting in release without charging or

 

 

HB4851- 21 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    arrests or charges not initiated by arrest resulting in
2    acquittal, dismissal, or conviction when the conviction
3    was reversed or vacated, unless excluded by subsection
4    (a)(3)(B). The provisions of this paragraph (1.5), other
5    than this sentence, are inoperative on and after January
6    1, 2022.
7        (2) Contents of petition. The petition shall be
8    verified and shall contain the petitioner's name, date of
9    birth, current address and, for each arrest or charge not
10    initiated by arrest sought to be sealed or expunged, the
11    case number, the date of arrest (if any), the identity of
12    the arresting authority, and such other information as the
13    court may require. During the pendency of the proceeding,
14    the petitioner shall promptly notify the circuit court
15    clerk of any change of his or her address. If the
16    petitioner has received a certificate of eligibility for
17    sealing from the Prisoner Review Board under paragraph
18    (10) of subsection (a) of Section 3-3-2 of the Unified
19    Code of Corrections, the certificate shall be attached to
20    the petition.
21        (3) Drug test. The petitioner must attach to the
22    petition proof that the petitioner has taken within 30
23    days before the filing of the petition a test showing the
24    absence within his or her body of all illegal substances
25    as defined by the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and
26    the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act

 

 

HB4851- 22 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    if he or she is petitioning to:
2            (A) seal felony records under clause (c)(2)(E);
3            (B) seal felony records for a violation of the
4        Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the
5        Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act,
6        or the Cannabis Control Act under clause (c)(2)(F);
7            (C) seal felony records under subsection (e-5); or
8            (D) expunge felony records of a qualified
9        probation under clause (b)(1)(iv).
10        (4) Service of petition. The circuit court clerk shall
11    promptly serve a copy of the petition and documentation to
12    support the petition under subsection (e-5) or (e-6) on
13    the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty
14    of prosecuting the offense, the Illinois State Police, the
15    arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit
16    of local government effecting the arrest.
17        (5) Objections.
18            (A) Any party entitled to notice of the petition
19        may file an objection to the petition. All objections
20        shall be in writing, shall be filed with the circuit
21        court clerk, and shall state with specificity the
22        basis of the objection. Whenever a person who has been
23        convicted of an offense is granted a pardon by the
24        Governor which specifically authorizes expungement, an
25        objection to the petition may not be filed.
26            (B) Objections to a petition to expunge or seal

 

 

HB4851- 23 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        must be filed within 60 days of the date of service of
2        the petition.
3        (6) Entry of order.
4            (A) The Chief Judge of the circuit wherein the
5        charge was brought, any judge of that circuit
6        designated by the Chief Judge, or in counties of less
7        than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge
8        at the petitioner's trial, if any, shall rule on the
9        petition to expunge or seal as set forth in this
10        subsection (d)(6).
11            (B) Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the
12        Illinois State Police, the arresting agency, or the
13        chief legal officer files an objection to the petition
14        to expunge or seal within 60 days from the date of
15        service of the petition, the court shall enter an
16        order granting or denying the petition.
17            (C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
18        the court shall not deny a petition for sealing under
19        this Section because the petitioner has not satisfied
20        an outstanding legal financial obligation established,
21        imposed, or originated by a court, law enforcement
22        agency, or a municipal, State, county, or other unit
23        of local government, including, but not limited to,
24        any cost, assessment, fine, or fee. An outstanding
25        legal financial obligation does not include any court
26        ordered restitution to a victim under Section 5-5-6 of

 

 

HB4851- 24 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        the Unified Code of Corrections, unless the
2        restitution has been converted to a civil judgment.
3        Nothing in this subparagraph (C) waives, rescinds, or
4        abrogates a legal financial obligation or otherwise
5        eliminates or affects the right of the holder of any
6        financial obligation to pursue collection under
7        applicable federal, State, or local law.
8            (D) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
9        the court shall not deny a petition to expunge or seal
10        under this Section because the petitioner has
11        submitted a drug test taken within 30 days before the
12        filing of the petition to expunge or seal that
13        indicates a positive test for the presence of cannabis
14        within the petitioner's body. In this subparagraph
15        (D), "cannabis" has the meaning ascribed to it in
16        Section 3 of the Cannabis Control Act.
17        (7) Hearings. If an objection is filed, the court
18    shall set a date for a hearing and notify the petitioner
19    and all parties entitled to notice of the petition of the
20    hearing date at least 30 days prior to the hearing. Prior
21    to the hearing, the State's Attorney shall consult with
22    the Illinois State Police as to the appropriateness of the
23    relief sought in the petition to expunge or seal. At the
24    hearing, the court shall hear evidence on whether the
25    petition should or should not be granted, and shall grant
26    or deny the petition to expunge or seal the records based

 

 

HB4851- 25 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    on the evidence presented at the hearing. The court may
2    consider the following:
3            (A) the strength of the evidence supporting the
4        defendant's conviction;
5            (B) the reasons for retention of the conviction
6        records by the State;
7            (C) the petitioner's age, criminal record history,
8        and employment history;
9            (D) the period of time between the petitioner's
10        arrest on the charge resulting in the conviction and
11        the filing of the petition under this Section; and
12            (E) the specific adverse consequences the
13        petitioner may be subject to if the petition is
14        denied.
15        (8) Service of order. After entering an order to
16    expunge or seal records, the court must provide copies of
17    the order to the Illinois State Police, in a form and
18    manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the
19    petitioner, to the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged
20    with the duty of prosecuting the offense, to the arresting
21    agency, to the chief legal officer of the unit of local
22    government effecting the arrest, and to such other
23    criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the court.
24        (9) Implementation of order.
25            (A) Upon entry of an order to expunge records
26        pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(A) or (b)(2)(B)(ii), or

 

 

HB4851- 26 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        both:
2                (i) the records shall be expunged (as defined
3            in subsection (a)(1)(E)) by the arresting agency,
4            the Illinois State Police, and any other agency as
5            ordered by the court, within 60 days of the date of
6            service of the order, unless a motion to vacate,
7            modify, or reconsider the order is filed pursuant
8            to paragraph (12) of subsection (d) of this
9            Section;
10                (ii) the records of the circuit court clerk
11            shall be impounded until further order of the
12            court upon good cause shown and the name of the
13            petitioner obliterated on the official index
14            required to be kept by the circuit court clerk
15            under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act, but
16            the order shall not affect any index issued by the
17            circuit court clerk before the entry of the order;
18            and
19                (iii) in response to an inquiry for expunged
20            records, the court, the Illinois State Police, or
21            the agency receiving such inquiry, shall reply as
22            it does in response to inquiries when no records
23            ever existed.
24            (B) Upon entry of an order to expunge records
25        pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B)(i) or (b)(2)(C), or
26        both:

 

 

HB4851- 27 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1                (i) the records shall be expunged (as defined
2            in subsection (a)(1)(E)) by the arresting agency
3            and any other agency as ordered by the court,
4            within 60 days of the date of service of the order,
5            unless a motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider
6            the order is filed pursuant to paragraph (12) of
7            subsection (d) of this Section;
8                (ii) the records of the circuit court clerk
9            shall be impounded until further order of the
10            court upon good cause shown and the name of the
11            petitioner obliterated on the official index
12            required to be kept by the circuit court clerk
13            under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act, but
14            the order shall not affect any index issued by the
15            circuit court clerk before the entry of the order;
16                (iii) the records shall be impounded by the
17            Illinois State Police within 60 days of the date
18            of service of the order as ordered by the court,
19            unless a motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider
20            the order is filed pursuant to paragraph (12) of
21            subsection (d) of this Section;
22                (iv) records impounded by the Illinois State
23            Police may be disseminated by the Illinois State
24            Police only as required by law or to the arresting
25            authority, the State's Attorney, and the court
26            upon a later arrest for the same or a similar

 

 

HB4851- 28 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any
2            subsequent felony, and to the Department of
3            Corrections upon conviction for any offense; and
4                (v) in response to an inquiry for such records
5            from anyone not authorized by law to access such
6            records, the court, the Illinois State Police, or
7            the agency receiving such inquiry shall reply as
8            it does in response to inquiries when no records
9            ever existed.
10            (B-5) Upon entry of an order to expunge records
11        under subsection (e-6):
12                (i) the records shall be expunged (as defined
13            in subsection (a)(1)(E)) by the arresting agency
14            and any other agency as ordered by the court,
15            within 60 days of the date of service of the order,
16            unless a motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider
17            the order is filed under paragraph (12) of
18            subsection (d) of this Section;
19                (ii) the records of the circuit court clerk
20            shall be impounded until further order of the
21            court upon good cause shown and the name of the
22            petitioner obliterated on the official index
23            required to be kept by the circuit court clerk
24            under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act, but
25            the order shall not affect any index issued by the
26            circuit court clerk before the entry of the order;

 

 

HB4851- 29 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1                (iii) the records shall be impounded by the
2            Illinois State Police within 60 days of the date
3            of service of the order as ordered by the court,
4            unless a motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider
5            the order is filed under paragraph (12) of
6            subsection (d) of this Section;
7                (iv) records impounded by the Illinois State
8            Police may be disseminated by the Illinois State
9            Police only as required by law or to the arresting
10            authority, the State's Attorney, and the court
11            upon a later arrest for the same or a similar
12            offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any
13            subsequent felony, and to the Department of
14            Corrections upon conviction for any offense; and
15                (v) in response to an inquiry for these
16            records from anyone not authorized by law to
17            access the records, the court, the Illinois State
18            Police, or the agency receiving the inquiry shall
19            reply as it does in response to inquiries when no
20            records ever existed.
21            (C) Upon entry of an order to seal records under
22        subsection (c), the arresting agency, any other agency
23        as ordered by the court, the Illinois State Police,
24        and the court shall seal the records (as defined in
25        subsection (a)(1)(K)). In response to an inquiry for
26        such records, from anyone not authorized by law to

 

 

HB4851- 30 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        access such records, the court, the Illinois State
2        Police, or the agency receiving such inquiry shall
3        reply as it does in response to inquiries when no
4        records ever existed.
5            (D) The Illinois State Police shall send written
6        notice to the petitioner of its compliance with each
7        order to expunge or seal records within 60 days of the
8        date of service of that order or, if a motion to
9        vacate, modify, or reconsider is filed, within 60 days
10        of service of the order resolving the motion, if that
11        order requires the Illinois State Police to expunge or
12        seal records. In the event of an appeal from the
13        circuit court order, the Illinois State Police shall
14        send written notice to the petitioner of its
15        compliance with an Appellate Court or Supreme Court
16        judgment to expunge or seal records within 60 days of
17        the issuance of the court's mandate. The notice is not
18        required while any motion to vacate, modify, or
19        reconsider, or any appeal or petition for
20        discretionary appellate review, is pending.
21            (E) Upon motion, the court may order that a sealed
22        judgment or other court record necessary to
23        demonstrate the amount of any legal financial
24        obligation due and owing be made available for the
25        limited purpose of collecting any legal financial
26        obligations owed by the petitioner that were

 

 

HB4851- 31 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        established, imposed, or originated in the criminal
2        proceeding for which those records have been sealed.
3        The records made available under this subparagraph (E)
4        shall not be entered into the official index required
5        to be kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16
6        of the Clerks of Courts Act and shall be immediately
7        re-impounded upon the collection of the outstanding
8        financial obligations.
9            (F) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
10        Section, a circuit court clerk may access a sealed
11        record for the limited purpose of collecting payment
12        for any legal financial obligations that were
13        established, imposed, or originated in the criminal
14        proceedings for which those records have been sealed.
15        (10) Fees. The Illinois State Police may charge the
16    petitioner a fee equivalent to the cost of processing any
17    order to expunge or seal records. Notwithstanding any
18    provision of the Clerks of Courts Act to the contrary, the
19    circuit court clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the
20    cost associated with the sealing or expungement of records
21    by the circuit court clerk. From the total filing fee
22    collected for the petition to seal or expunge, the circuit
23    court clerk shall deposit $10 into the Circuit Court Clerk
24    Operation and Administrative Fund, to be used to offset
25    the costs incurred by the circuit court clerk in
26    performing the additional duties required to serve the

 

 

HB4851- 32 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    petition to seal or expunge on all parties. The circuit
2    court clerk shall collect and remit the Illinois State
3    Police portion of the fee to the State Treasurer and it
4    shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund. If
5    the record brought under an expungement petition was
6    previously sealed under this Section, the fee for the
7    expungement petition for that same record shall be waived.
8        (11) Final Order. No court order issued under the
9    expungement or sealing provisions of this Section shall
10    become final for purposes of appeal until 30 days after
11    service of the order on the petitioner and all parties
12    entitled to notice of the petition.
13        (12) Motion to Vacate, Modify, or Reconsider. Under
14    Section 2-1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the
15    petitioner or any party entitled to notice may file a
16    motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider the order granting
17    or denying the petition to expunge or seal within 60 days
18    of service of the order. If filed more than 60 days after
19    service of the order, a petition to vacate, modify, or
20    reconsider shall comply with subsection (c) of Section
21    2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Upon filing of a
22    motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider, notice of the
23    motion shall be served upon the petitioner and all parties
24    entitled to notice of the petition.
25        (13) Effect of Order. An order granting a petition
26    under the expungement or sealing provisions of this

 

 

HB4851- 33 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    Section shall not be considered void because it fails to
2    comply with the provisions of this Section or because of
3    any error asserted in a motion to vacate, modify, or
4    reconsider. The circuit court retains jurisdiction to
5    determine whether the order is voidable and to vacate,
6    modify, or reconsider its terms based on a motion filed
7    under paragraph (12) of this subsection (d).
8        (14) Compliance with Order Granting Petition to Seal
9    Records. Unless a court has entered a stay of an order
10    granting a petition to seal, all parties entitled to
11    notice of the petition must fully comply with the terms of
12    the order within 60 days of service of the order even if a
13    party is seeking relief from the order through a motion
14    filed under paragraph (12) of this subsection (d) or is
15    appealing the order.
16        (15) Compliance with Order Granting Petition to
17    Expunge Records. While a party is seeking relief from the
18    order granting the petition to expunge through a motion
19    filed under paragraph (12) of this subsection (d) or is
20    appealing the order, and unless a court has entered a stay
21    of that order, the parties entitled to notice of the
22    petition must seal, but need not expunge, the records
23    until there is a final order on the motion for relief or,
24    in the case of an appeal, the issuance of that court's
25    mandate.
26        (16) The changes to this subsection (d) made by Public

 

 

HB4851- 34 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    Act 98-163 apply to all petitions pending on August 5,
2    2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-163) and to all
3    orders ruling on a petition to expunge or seal on or after
4    August 5, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-163).
5    (e) Whenever a person who has been convicted of an offense
6is granted a pardon by the Governor which specifically
7authorizes expungement, he or she may, upon verified petition
8to the Chief Judge of the circuit where the person had been
9convicted, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief
10Judge, or in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the
11presiding trial judge at the defendant's trial, have a court
12order entered expunging the record of arrest from the official
13records of the arresting authority and order that the records
14of the circuit court clerk and the Illinois State Police be
15sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown
16or as otherwise provided herein, and the name of the defendant
17obliterated from the official index requested to be kept by
18the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of
19Courts Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for
20the offense for which he or she had been pardoned but the order
21shall not affect any index issued by the circuit court clerk
22before the entry of the order. All records sealed by the
23Illinois State Police may be disseminated by the Illinois
24State Police only to the arresting authority, the State's
25Attorney, and the court upon a later arrest for the same or
26similar offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any

 

 

HB4851- 35 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1subsequent felony. Upon conviction for any subsequent offense,
2the Department of Corrections shall have access to all sealed
3records of the Illinois State Police pertaining to that
4individual. Upon entry of the order of expungement, the
5circuit court clerk shall promptly mail a copy of the order to
6the person who was pardoned.
7    (e-5) Whenever a person who has been convicted of an
8offense is granted a certificate of eligibility for sealing by
9the Prisoner Review Board which specifically authorizes
10sealing, he or she may, upon verified petition to the Chief
11Judge of the circuit where the person had been convicted, any
12judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or in
13counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding
14trial judge at the petitioner's trial, have a court order
15entered sealing the record of arrest from the official records
16of the arresting authority and order that the records of the
17circuit court clerk and the Illinois State Police be sealed
18until further order of the court upon good cause shown or as
19otherwise provided herein, and the name of the petitioner
20obliterated from the official index requested to be kept by
21the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of
22Courts Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for
23the offense for which he or she had been granted the
24certificate but the order shall not affect any index issued by
25the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. All
26records sealed by the Illinois State Police may be

 

 

HB4851- 36 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1disseminated by the Illinois State Police only as required by
2this Act or to the arresting authority, a law enforcement
3agency, the State's Attorney, and the court upon a later
4arrest for the same or similar offense or for the purpose of
5sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon conviction for any
6subsequent offense, the Department of Corrections shall have
7access to all sealed records of the Illinois State Police
8pertaining to that individual. Upon entry of the order of
9sealing, the circuit court clerk shall promptly mail a copy of
10the order to the person who was granted the certificate of
11eligibility for sealing.
12    (e-6) Whenever a person who has been convicted of an
13offense is granted a certificate of eligibility for
14expungement by the Prisoner Review Board which specifically
15authorizes expungement, he or she may, upon verified petition
16to the Chief Judge of the circuit where the person had been
17convicted, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief
18Judge, or in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the
19presiding trial judge at the petitioner's trial, have a court
20order entered expunging the record of arrest from the official
21records of the arresting authority and order that the records
22of the circuit court clerk and the Illinois State Police be
23sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown
24or as otherwise provided herein, and the name of the
25petitioner obliterated from the official index requested to be
26kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks

 

 

HB4851- 37 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1of Courts Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for
2the offense for which he or she had been granted the
3certificate but the order shall not affect any index issued by
4the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. All
5records sealed by the Illinois State Police may be
6disseminated by the Illinois State Police only as required by
7this Act or to the arresting authority, a law enforcement
8agency, the State's Attorney, and the court upon a later
9arrest for the same or similar offense or for the purpose of
10sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon conviction for any
11subsequent offense, the Department of Corrections shall have
12access to all expunged records of the Illinois State Police
13pertaining to that individual. Upon entry of the order of
14expungement, the circuit court clerk shall promptly mail a
15copy of the order to the person who was granted the certificate
16of eligibility for expungement.
17    (f) Subject to available funding, the Illinois Department
18of Corrections shall conduct a study of the impact of sealing,
19especially on employment and recidivism rates, utilizing a
20random sample of those who apply for the sealing of their
21criminal records under Public Act 93-211. At the request of
22the Illinois Department of Corrections, records of the
23Illinois Department of Employment Security shall be utilized
24as appropriate to assist in the study. The study shall not
25disclose any data in a manner that would allow the
26identification of any particular individual or employing unit.

 

 

HB4851- 38 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1The study shall be made available to the General Assembly no
2later than September 1, 2010.
3    (g) Immediate Sealing.
4        (1) Applicability. Notwithstanding any other provision
5    of this Act to the contrary, and cumulative with any
6    rights to expungement or sealing of criminal records, this
7    subsection authorizes the immediate sealing of criminal
8    records of adults and of minors prosecuted as adults.
9        (2) Eligible Records. Arrests or charges not initiated
10    by arrest resulting in acquittal or dismissal with
11    prejudice, except as excluded by subsection (a)(3)(B),
12    that occur on or after January 1, 2018 (the effective date
13    of Public Act 100-282), may be sealed immediately if the
14    petition is filed with the circuit court clerk on the same
15    day and during the same hearing in which the case is
16    disposed.
17        (3) When Records are Eligible to be Immediately
18    Sealed. Eligible records under paragraph (2) of this
19    subsection (g) may be sealed immediately after entry of
20    the final disposition of a case, notwithstanding the
21    disposition of other charges in the same case.
22        (4) Notice of Eligibility for Immediate Sealing. Upon
23    entry of a disposition for an eligible record under this
24    subsection (g), the defendant shall be informed by the
25    court of his or her right to have eligible records
26    immediately sealed and the procedure for the immediate

 

 

HB4851- 39 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    sealing of these records.
2        (5) Procedure. The following procedures apply to
3    immediate sealing under this subsection (g).
4            (A) Filing the Petition. Upon entry of the final
5        disposition of the case, the defendant's attorney may
6        immediately petition the court, on behalf of the
7        defendant, for immediate sealing of eligible records
8        under paragraph (2) of this subsection (g) that are
9        entered on or after January 1, 2018 (the effective
10        date of Public Act 100-282). The immediate sealing
11        petition may be filed with the circuit court clerk
12        during the hearing in which the final disposition of
13        the case is entered. If the defendant's attorney does
14        not file the petition for immediate sealing during the
15        hearing, the defendant may file a petition for sealing
16        at any time as authorized under subsection (c)(3)(A).
17            (B) Contents of Petition. The immediate sealing
18        petition shall be verified and shall contain the
19        petitioner's name, date of birth, current address, and
20        for each eligible record, the case number, the date of
21        arrest if applicable, the identity of the arresting
22        authority if applicable, and other information as the
23        court may require.
24            (C) Drug Test. The petitioner shall not be
25        required to attach proof that he or she has passed a
26        drug test.

 

 

HB4851- 40 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            (D) Service of Petition. A copy of the petition
2        shall be served on the State's Attorney in open court.
3        The petitioner shall not be required to serve a copy of
4        the petition on any other agency.
5            (E) Entry of Order. The presiding trial judge
6        shall enter an order granting or denying the petition
7        for immediate sealing during the hearing in which it
8        is filed. Petitions for immediate sealing shall be
9        ruled on in the same hearing in which the final
10        disposition of the case is entered.
11            (F) Hearings. The court shall hear the petition
12        for immediate sealing on the same day and during the
13        same hearing in which the disposition is rendered.
14            (G) Service of Order. An order to immediately seal
15        eligible records shall be served in conformance with
16        subsection (d)(8).
17            (H) Implementation of Order. An order to
18        immediately seal records shall be implemented in
19        conformance with subsections (d)(9)(C) and (d)(9)(D).
20            (I) Fees. The fee imposed by the circuit court
21        clerk and the Illinois State Police shall comply with
22        paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of this Section.
23            (J) Final Order. No court order issued under this
24        subsection (g) shall become final for purposes of
25        appeal until 30 days after service of the order on the
26        petitioner and all parties entitled to service of the

 

 

HB4851- 41 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        order in conformance with subsection (d)(8).
2            (K) Motion to Vacate, Modify, or Reconsider. Under
3        Section 2-1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the
4        petitioner, State's Attorney, or the Illinois State
5        Police may file a motion to vacate, modify, or
6        reconsider the order denying the petition to
7        immediately seal within 60 days of service of the
8        order. If filed more than 60 days after service of the
9        order, a petition to vacate, modify, or reconsider
10        shall comply with subsection (c) of Section 2-1401 of
11        the Code of Civil Procedure.
12            (L) Effect of Order. An order granting an
13        immediate sealing petition shall not be considered
14        void because it fails to comply with the provisions of
15        this Section or because of an error asserted in a
16        motion to vacate, modify, or reconsider. The circuit
17        court retains jurisdiction to determine whether the
18        order is voidable, and to vacate, modify, or
19        reconsider its terms based on a motion filed under
20        subparagraph (L) of this subsection (g).
21            (M) Compliance with Order Granting Petition to
22        Seal Records. Unless a court has entered a stay of an
23        order granting a petition to immediately seal, all
24        parties entitled to service of the order must fully
25        comply with the terms of the order within 60 days of
26        service of the order.

 

 

HB4851- 42 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    (h) Sealing or vacation and expungement of trafficking
2victims' crimes.
3        (1) A trafficking victim, as defined by paragraph (10)
4    of subsection (a) of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of
5    2012, may petition for vacation and expungement or
6    immediate sealing of his or her criminal record upon the
7    completion of his or her last sentence if his or her
8    participation in the underlying offense was a result of
9    human trafficking under Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code
10    of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking under the federal
11    Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
12        (1.5) A petition under paragraph (1) shall be
13    prepared, signed, and filed in accordance with Supreme
14    Court Rule 9. The court may allow the petitioner to attend
15    any required hearing remotely in accordance with local
16    rules. The court may allow a petition to be filed under
17    seal if the public filing of the petition would constitute
18    a risk of harm to the petitioner.
19        (2) A petitioner under this subsection (h), in
20    addition to the requirements provided under paragraph (4)
21    of subsection (d) of this Section, shall include in his or
22    her petition a clear and concise statement that: (A) he or
23    she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the
24    offense; and (B) that his or her participation in the
25    offense was a result of human trafficking under Section
26    10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of

 

 

HB4851- 43 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims
2    Protection Act.
3        (3) If an objection is filed alleging that the
4    petitioner is not entitled to vacation and expungement or
5    immediate sealing under this subsection (h), the court
6    shall conduct a hearing under paragraph (7) of subsection
7    (d) of this Section and the court shall determine whether
8    the petitioner is entitled to vacation and expungement or
9    immediate sealing under this subsection (h). A petitioner
10    is eligible for vacation and expungement or immediate
11    relief under this subsection (h) if he or she shows, by a
12    preponderance of the evidence, that: (A) he or she was a
13    victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense;
14    and (B) that his or her participation in the offense was a
15    result of human trafficking under Section 10-9 of the
16    Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking
17    under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
18    (i) Minor Cannabis Offenses under the Cannabis Control
19Act.
20        (1) Expungement of Arrest Records of Minor Cannabis
21    Offenses.
22            (A) The Illinois State Police and all law
23        enforcement agencies within the State shall
24        automatically expunge all criminal history records of
25        an arrest, charge not initiated by arrest, order of
26        supervision, or order of qualified probation for a

 

 

HB4851- 44 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        Minor Cannabis Offense committed prior to June 25,
2        2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-27) if:
3                (i) One year or more has elapsed since the
4            date of the arrest or law enforcement interaction
5            documented in the records; and
6                (ii) No criminal charges were filed relating
7            to the arrest or law enforcement interaction or
8            criminal charges were filed and subsequently
9            dismissed or vacated or the arrestee was
10            acquitted.
11            (B) If the law enforcement agency is unable to
12        verify satisfaction of condition (ii) in paragraph
13        (A), records that satisfy condition (i) in paragraph
14        (A) shall be automatically expunged.
15            (C) Records shall be expunged by the law
16        enforcement agency under the following timelines:
17                (i) Records created prior to June 25, 2019
18            (the effective date of Public Act 101-27), but on
19            or after January 1, 2013, shall be automatically
20            expunged prior to January 1, 2021;
21                (ii) Records created prior to January 1, 2013,
22            but on or after January 1, 2000, shall be
23            automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2023;
24                (iii) Records created prior to January 1, 2000
25            shall be automatically expunged prior to January
26            1, 2025.

 

 

HB4851- 45 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            In response to an inquiry for expunged records,
2        the law enforcement agency receiving such inquiry
3        shall reply as it does in response to inquiries when no
4        records ever existed; however, it shall provide a
5        certificate of disposition or confirmation that the
6        record was expunged to the individual whose record was
7        expunged if such a record exists.
8            (D) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to
9        restrict or modify an individual's right to have that
10        individual's records expunged except as otherwise may
11        be provided in this Act, or diminish or abrogate any
12        rights or remedies otherwise available to the
13        individual.
14        (2) Pardons Authorizing Expungement of Minor Cannabis
15    Offenses.
16            (A) Upon June 25, 2019 (the effective date of
17        Public Act 101-27), the Department of State Police
18        shall review all criminal history record information
19        and identify all records that meet all of the
20        following criteria:
21                (i) one or more convictions for a Minor
22            Cannabis Offense;
23                (ii) the conviction identified in paragraph
24            (2)(A)(i) did not include a penalty enhancement
25            under Section 7 of the Cannabis Control Act; and
26                (iii) the conviction identified in paragraph

 

 

HB4851- 46 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1            (2)(A)(i) is not associated with a conviction for
2            a violent crime as defined in subsection (c) of
3            Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and
4            Witnesses Act.
5            (B) Within 180 days after June 25, 2019 (the
6        effective date of Public Act 101-27), the Department
7        of State Police shall notify the Prisoner Review Board
8        of all such records that meet the criteria established
9        in paragraph (2)(A).
10                (i) The Prisoner Review Board shall notify the
11            State's Attorney of the county of conviction of
12            each record identified by State Police in
13            paragraph (2)(A) that is classified as a Class 4
14            felony. The State's Attorney may provide a written
15            objection to the Prisoner Review Board on the sole
16            basis that the record identified does not meet the
17            criteria established in paragraph (2)(A). Such an
18            objection must be filed within 60 days or by such
19            later date set by the Prisoner Review Board in the
20            notice after the State's Attorney received notice
21            from the Prisoner Review Board.
22                (ii) In response to a written objection from a
23            State's Attorney, the Prisoner Review Board is
24            authorized to conduct a non-public hearing to
25            evaluate the information provided in the
26            objection.

 

 

HB4851- 47 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1                (iii) The Prisoner Review Board shall make a
2            confidential and privileged recommendation to the
3            Governor as to whether to grant a pardon
4            authorizing expungement for each of the records
5            identified by the Department of State Police as
6            described in paragraph (2)(A).
7            (C) If an individual has been granted a pardon
8        authorizing expungement as described in this Section,
9        the Prisoner Review Board, through the Attorney
10        General, shall file a petition for expungement with
11        the Chief Judge of the circuit or any judge of the
12        circuit designated by the Chief Judge where the
13        individual had been convicted. Such petition may
14        include more than one individual. Whenever an
15        individual who has been convicted of an offense is
16        granted a pardon by the Governor that specifically
17        authorizes expungement, an objection to the petition
18        may not be filed. Petitions to expunge under this
19        subsection (i) may include more than one individual.
20        Within 90 days of the filing of such a petition, the
21        court shall enter an order expunging the records of
22        arrest from the official records of the arresting
23        authority and order that the records of the circuit
24        court clerk and the Illinois State Police be expunged
25        and the name of the defendant obliterated from the
26        official index requested to be kept by the circuit

 

 

HB4851- 48 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1        court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts
2        Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for
3        the offense for which the individual had received a
4        pardon but the order shall not affect any index issued
5        by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the
6        order. Upon entry of the order of expungement, the
7        circuit court clerk shall promptly provide a copy of
8        the order and a certificate of disposition to the
9        individual who was pardoned to the individual's last
10        known address or by electronic means (if available) or
11        otherwise make it available to the individual upon
12        request.
13            (D) Nothing in this Section is intended to
14        diminish or abrogate any rights or remedies otherwise
15        available to the individual.
16        (3) Any individual may file a motion to vacate and
17    expunge a conviction for a misdemeanor or Class 4 felony
18    violation of Section 4 or Section 5 of the Cannabis
19    Control Act. Motions to vacate and expunge under this
20    subsection (i) may be filed with the circuit court, Chief
21    Judge of a judicial circuit or any judge of the circuit
22    designated by the Chief Judge. The circuit court clerk
23    shall promptly serve a copy of the motion to vacate and
24    expunge, and any supporting documentation, on the State's
25    Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of
26    prosecuting the offense. When considering such a motion to

 

 

HB4851- 49 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    vacate and expunge, a court shall consider the following:
2    the reasons to retain the records provided by law
3    enforcement, the petitioner's age, the petitioner's age at
4    the time of offense, the time since the conviction, and
5    the specific adverse consequences if denied. An individual
6    may file such a petition after the completion of any
7    non-financial sentence or non-financial condition imposed
8    by the conviction. Within 60 days of the filing of such
9    motion, a State's Attorney may file an objection to such a
10    petition along with supporting evidence. If a motion to
11    vacate and expunge is granted, the records shall be
12    expunged in accordance with subparagraphs (d)(8) and
13    (d)(9)(A) of this Section. An agency providing civil legal
14    aid, as defined by Section 15 of the Public Interest
15    Attorney Assistance Act, assisting individuals seeking to
16    file a motion to vacate and expunge under this subsection
17    may file motions to vacate and expunge with the Chief
18    Judge of a judicial circuit or any judge of the circuit
19    designated by the Chief Judge, and the motion may include
20    more than one individual. Motions filed by an agency
21    providing civil legal aid concerning more than one
22    individual may be prepared, presented, and signed
23    electronically.
24        (4) Any State's Attorney may file a motion to vacate
25    and expunge a conviction for a misdemeanor or Class 4
26    felony violation of Section 4 or Section 5 of the Cannabis

 

 

HB4851- 50 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    Control Act. Motions to vacate and expunge under this
2    subsection (i) may be filed with the circuit court, Chief
3    Judge of a judicial circuit or any judge of the circuit
4    designated by the Chief Judge, and may include more than
5    one individual. Motions filed by a State's Attorney
6    concerning more than one individual may be prepared,
7    presented, and signed electronically. When considering
8    such a motion to vacate and expunge, a court shall
9    consider the following: the reasons to retain the records
10    provided by law enforcement, the individual's age, the
11    individual's age at the time of offense, the time since
12    the conviction, and the specific adverse consequences if
13    denied. Upon entry of an order granting a motion to vacate
14    and expunge records pursuant to this Section, the State's
15    Attorney shall notify the Prisoner Review Board within 30
16    days. Upon entry of the order of expungement, the circuit
17    court clerk shall promptly provide a copy of the order and
18    a certificate of disposition to the individual whose
19    records will be expunged to the individual's last known
20    address or by electronic means (if available) or otherwise
21    make available to the individual upon request. If a motion
22    to vacate and expunge is granted, the records shall be
23    expunged in accordance with subparagraphs (d)(8) and
24    (d)(9)(A) of this Section.
25        (5) In the public interest, the State's Attorney of a
26    county has standing to file motions to vacate and expunge

 

 

HB4851- 51 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    pursuant to this Section in the circuit court with
2    jurisdiction over the underlying conviction.
3        (6) If a person is arrested for a Minor Cannabis
4    Offense as defined in this Section before June 25, 2019
5    (the effective date of Public Act 101-27) and the person's
6    case is still pending but a sentence has not been imposed,
7    the person may petition the court in which the charges are
8    pending for an order to summarily dismiss those charges
9    against him or her, and expunge all official records of
10    his or her arrest, plea, trial, conviction, incarceration,
11    supervision, or expungement. If the court determines, upon
12    review, that: (A) the person was arrested before June 25,
13    2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-27) for an
14    offense that has been made eligible for expungement; (B)
15    the case is pending at the time; and (C) the person has not
16    been sentenced of the minor cannabis violation eligible
17    for expungement under this subsection, the court shall
18    consider the following: the reasons to retain the records
19    provided by law enforcement, the petitioner's age, the
20    petitioner's age at the time of offense, the time since
21    the conviction, and the specific adverse consequences if
22    denied. If a motion to dismiss and expunge is granted, the
23    records shall be expunged in accordance with subparagraph
24    (d)(9)(A) of this Section.
25        (7) A person imprisoned solely as a result of one or
26    more convictions for Minor Cannabis Offenses under this

 

 

HB4851- 52 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    subsection (i) shall be released from incarceration upon
2    the issuance of an order under this subsection.
3        (8) The Illinois State Police shall allow a person to
4    use the access and review process, established in the
5    Illinois State Police, for verifying that his or her
6    records relating to Minor Cannabis Offenses of the
7    Cannabis Control Act eligible under this Section have been
8    expunged.
9        (9) No conviction vacated pursuant to this Section
10    shall serve as the basis for damages for time unjustly
11    served as provided in the Court of Claims Act.
12        (10) Effect of Expungement. A person's right to
13    expunge an expungeable offense shall not be limited under
14    this Section. The effect of an order of expungement shall
15    be to restore the person to the status he or she occupied
16    before the arrest, charge, or conviction.
17        (11) Information. The Illinois State Police shall post
18    general information on its website about the expungement
19    process described in this subsection (i).
20    (j) Felony Prostitution Convictions.
21        (1) Any individual may file a motion to vacate and
22    expunge a conviction for a prior Class 4 felony violation
23    of prostitution. Motions to vacate and expunge under this
24    subsection (j) may be filed with the circuit court, Chief
25    Judge of a judicial circuit, or any judge of the circuit
26    designated by the Chief Judge. When considering the motion

 

 

HB4851- 53 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    to vacate and expunge, a court shall consider the
2    following:
3            (A) the reasons to retain the records provided by
4        law enforcement;
5            (B) the petitioner's age;
6            (C) the petitioner's age at the time of offense;
7        and
8            (D) the time since the conviction, and the
9        specific adverse consequences if denied. An individual
10        may file the petition after the completion of any
11        sentence or condition imposed by the conviction.
12        Within 60 days of the filing of the motion, a State's
13        Attorney may file an objection to the petition along
14        with supporting evidence. If a motion to vacate and
15        expunge is granted, the records shall be expunged in
16        accordance with subparagraph (d)(9)(A) of this
17        Section. An agency providing civil legal aid, as
18        defined in Section 15 of the Public Interest Attorney
19        Assistance Act, assisting individuals seeking to file
20        a motion to vacate and expunge under this subsection
21        may file motions to vacate and expunge with the Chief
22        Judge of a judicial circuit or any judge of the circuit
23        designated by the Chief Judge, and the motion may
24        include more than one individual.
25        (2) Any State's Attorney may file a motion to vacate
26    and expunge a conviction for a Class 4 felony violation of

 

 

HB4851- 54 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    prostitution. Motions to vacate and expunge under this
2    subsection (j) may be filed with the circuit court, Chief
3    Judge of a judicial circuit, or any judge of the circuit
4    court designated by the Chief Judge, and may include more
5    than one individual. When considering the motion to vacate
6    and expunge, a court shall consider the following reasons:
7            (A) the reasons to retain the records provided by
8        law enforcement;
9            (B) the petitioner's age;
10            (C) the petitioner's age at the time of offense;
11            (D) the time since the conviction; and
12            (E) the specific adverse consequences if denied.
13        If the State's Attorney files a motion to vacate and
14    expunge records for felony prostitution convictions
15    pursuant to this Section, the State's Attorney shall
16    notify the Prisoner Review Board within 30 days of the
17    filing. If a motion to vacate and expunge is granted, the
18    records shall be expunged in accordance with subparagraph
19    (d)(9)(A) of this Section.
20        (3) In the public interest, the State's Attorney of a
21    county has standing to file motions to vacate and expunge
22    pursuant to this Section in the circuit court with
23    jurisdiction over the underlying conviction.
24        (4) The Illinois State Police shall allow a person to
25    a use the access and review process, established in the
26    Illinois State Police, for verifying that his or her

 

 

HB4851- 55 -LRB103 36508 AWJ 66614 b

1    records relating to felony prostitution eligible under
2    this Section have been expunged.
3        (5) No conviction vacated pursuant to this Section
4    shall serve as the basis for damages for time unjustly
5    served as provided in the Court of Claims Act.
6        (6) Effect of Expungement. A person's right to expunge
7    an expungeable offense shall not be limited under this
8    Section. The effect of an order of expungement shall be to
9    restore the person to the status he or she occupied before
10    the arrest, charge, or conviction.
11        (7) Information. The Illinois State Police shall post
12    general information on its website about the expungement
13    process described in this subsection (j).
14(Source: P.A. 102-145, eff. 7-23-21; 102-558, 8-20-21;
15102-639, eff. 8-27-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-933, eff.
161-1-23; 103-35, eff. 1-1-24; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)