This bill amends Michigan's laws concerning the process for setting aside criminal convictions, introducing provisions that allow multiple felony or misdemeanor offenses to be treated as a single conviction if they occurred within 24 hours and stemmed from the same transaction, excluding serious crimes. It also establishes a new section (1j) permitting individuals who committed a felony before the age of eighteen to apply for expungement under specific conditions, such as successful discharge from the Department of Corrections and maintaining a clean record since release. The bill clarifies the application process, which includes a $50 fee and fingerprint submission for background checks, while outlining conditions for application denial and emphasizing that certain serious offenses remain ineligible for expungement.

Additionally, the bill specifies that convictions set aside cannot be used as evidence in negligent hiring, admission, or licensure actions, and allows for these convictions to be considered prior convictions in future offenses. It clarifies the definition of "applicant" to include those who have applied for or automatically had their convictions set aside. The bill also details the responsibilities of the court and the Department of State Police regarding the retention of nonpublic records of set-aside orders and introduces penalties for unauthorized disclosure of such information. Overall, the amendments aim to create a more structured and accessible framework for expungement while ensuring public safety and the rights of victims are upheld.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 780.621, 780.624
As Passed by the Senate: 780.621, 780.624