This bill amends current law regarding the dissemination of criminal history background information by the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) within the Division of State Police. It specifically prohibits the SBI from disseminating such information if there is an unprocessed order of expungement for the individual in question. The bill mandates that the SBI must first verify whether the person has an unprocessed expungement order and update its records accordingly before providing any background information. This change aims to prevent the dissemination of outdated or incorrect information that could negatively impact individuals seeking employment, licensing, or volunteer opportunities.

The bill introduces new legal language that requires the SBI to ensure that records are updated to reflect expungements prior to the release of background information. This addresses a gap in the current law, which does not explicitly require the SBI to update records before dissemination. By implementing this requirement, the bill seeks to protect individuals from potential harm caused by outdated criminal history records, particularly in situations where a backlog of expungement requests exists. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53:1-20.6