Bill H.566 amends existing laws regarding the sealing of post-charge court diversion records in Vermont. The bill replaces the term "expungement" with "sealing" throughout the relevant sections of the law, specifically in 3 V.S.A. 163 and 3 V.S.A. 164. It establishes that, within 30 days after the two-year anniversary of a successful completion of a post-charge diversion program, the court must notify all parties of its intention to seal all related records, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include the participant not having been convicted of any subsequent offenses during the two-year period and not owing restitution related to the case. The bill also repeals previous provisions regarding the expungement of sealed records and outlines the confidentiality of the special index of sealed cases.

Additionally, the bill introduces a pilot program allowing the referral of criminal municipal ordinance violations to the Burlington Community Justice Center from January 1, 2026, until July 1, 2027. The effective dates for the various sections of the bill are specified, with the pilot program and related provisions taking effect upon passage, while the amendments to the sealing of records will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-163, 3-164
As Passed By the House -- Official: 3-163, 3-164
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 3-163, 3-164