The bill amends K.S.A. 38-2312 to establish a process for the automatic expungement of certain juvenile records upon final discharge for adjudications concerning acts that would not constitute serious offenses if committed by an adult. Specifically, starting July 1, 2025, the court is required to expunge all related records without any action needed from the juvenile, and no docket fee will be charged for this process. However, records related to serious offenses, such as murder or sexual crimes, will not be eligible for expungement. Additionally, the bill clarifies that juveniles required to register under the Kansas offender registration act will not have their records expunged while they are under this requirement.

The bill also outlines the procedures for applying for expungement, including the necessary information to be included in the petition and the conditions under which expungement may be granted. It specifies that the court must hold a hearing for petitions filed by juveniles or their guardians, and it establishes that expunged records will be treated as if they never occurred, with certain exceptions for future legal proceedings. The bill repeals the existing K.S.A. 38-2312, effectively replacing it with the new provisions outlined in this act.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2312